BOSTON — Jitters and nerves are to be expected when making your Major League debut. Especially when your first big league game comes at the storied Fenway Park against a likely playoff-bound team.
But after seven years and a number of injuries, George Valera felt relief on Monday afternoon.
The 24-year-old former top prospect had a whirlwind 36 hours since finding out on Saturday that he would be among Cleveland’s callups when rosters expanded from 26 to 28 players on Monday. From playing a Triple-A game in Louisville to hopping on a flight to Boston to batting seventh as the designated hitter in the Guardians’ series opener in Boston, Valera’s calm demeanor never wavered.
It was evident in his first big league plate appearance — in which he sat on four pitches for a walk — and showed t