For former ASU infielder Willie Bloomquist, the road to the Major Leagues has been as painful as it has been swift.
Hanging up his spikes as a Sun Devil in May of 1999, Bloomquist elected to enter the Major League Baseball draft and was selected by the Seattle Mariners as the 95th overall pick in the draft.
After a prestigious career at ASU, Bloomquist was assigned to the Class A Aqua Sox (Everett, Wash.) where he announced his presence with authority during his debut game with a 4-for-6 day, including a home run, four runs, and 3 RBI. The following game he had two hits, another home run and 3 RBI.
"It's kind of what you've been groomed for your whole life," he said Wednesday afternoon outside a soggy Peoria Sports Complex practice field.
However, his first season of professional baseball was cut short when he broke his left hand Aug. 6, which kept him off the field for the remainder of the year. Despite the limited time on the field in Everett, Bloomquist led the team with 17 stolen bases, leading to a promotion the following year.
After a successful 2000 season splitting time between Lancaster and Triple-A Tacoma, 2001 proved to be a test for the Washington native. Admittedly his toughest season on the field, Bloomquist struggled at Double-A San Antonio where he slumped both at the plate and in the field, committing an uncharacteristic 24 errors on the year, but was able to finish third in the Texas League in stolen bases with 34 in 79 games.
Bloomquist's former coach, Pat Murphy said the time was "tough" for the young prospect.
Somehow, someone had confidence in Bloomquist, because in 2002 the 24-year-old was assigned to begin the year with Tacoma. His slump continued however, as he began the season hitting only .201 (29-for-144).
"Early on in the season I was diagnosed with a bulging disc in my lower back," Bloomquist said, "but it was just something I had to take care of. It happened early in the season and I was able to recover by the end of the year."
Entertaining two stints on the Rainiers' disabled list, Bloomquist returned to the Tacoma lineup on fire, hitting .321 (62-for-193) through July and August, earning his first September call-up from Mariners manager Lou Piniella.
Seeing his first action that night as a pinch-runner against Kansas City, Bloomquist would soon make his first start on Sept. 19, when the Mariners hosted Texas at Safeco Field in a series that threw the rookie into a heated wild-card race.
"I tried not to get overwhelmed, just because if you sit there and think about the whole situation you're going to be overwhelmed," he said Wednesday. "You just got to go up and put things into perspective and do your job.
"You get up there and do what you're supposed to do, and not get caught up in the situation. Just see the ball, hit the ball, and don't think about the 40,000 people watching you or you're going to feel awful small."
Through his eight starts with Seattle, Bloomquist hit .455, scored 11 runs and knocked in 7 RBI, while fielding a perfect 15-of-15 in putouts and assists.
"Its kind of my approach to go up there relaxed and give it a good swing."
His former college coach considers Bloomquist one of the best friends he's ever had, and without hesitation compares him to another former player of his, Diamondbacks third baseman Craig Counsell.
"They both play the game with a passion, and they know how to play the game within the game," ASU coach Pat Murphy said. "They're winners in baseball and in life. I have great respect for both of them."
Reach the reporter at damien.tippett@asu.edu.
