(CNN) — It isn’t an everyday phenomenon that a baseball pitcher receives a standing ovation from the audience when they earn their way into the mound.
But Cleveland Indians star Carlos Carrasco jogged on the field and had the 4,000-plus fans at the Canal Park in their feet of Akron as he stepped from the bullpen in the sixth inning.
Carrasco reception was since he had been creating his first league rehab look after being diagnosed with leukemia on June 5.
«It feels amazing because those people were supporting me the entire way,» Carrasco informed the MLB site. «From day until today.»
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A sudden comeback
The Venezuelan overlooked the 2012 MLB season after undergoing Tommy John surgery — ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction.
And on his road to return out of his leukemia identification, Indians manager Terry Francona said weekly, Carrasco pitched around 90-93 mph in a game.
However, the proved he had more in the tank on the first pitch of his rehabilitation assignment with Cleveland’s AA affiliate in Akron. Carrasco fired in a 97 mph which amazed even himself.
«You know everything, it feels great because the very first time coming back from two and a half months with no baseball and just a couple bullpens, possibly four or three bullpens, along with also the first pitch is 97 [mph],» Carrasco said.
«Right off, I return to the scoreboard since I only wanted to find out what was that pitch, and it was 97 miles and it feels wonderful.
«I was amazed because most of my pitches were far different than previously. Even my changeup, also.»
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Returning to the time
If the on-field performances of Carrasco made him hot in Cleveland, his off-field ventures also have made him a beloved figure .
With the help of his wife the Venezuelan set up back and the Carlos Carrasco Foundation which funding early childhood education in Cleveland home in Venezuela.
Saturday, Francona said the plan was supposed to keep Carrasco on a reliever’s plan to ease him back to baseball and eventually back at Cleveland.
«I believe when he began thinking about establishing as a beginner, it sort of seemed a little daunting, a little way off,» the manager said.
But observing an outing that comprised 11 of the 16 pitches clocking at higher or 94 miles, the return of Carrasco could be earlier rather than later.
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«I am all set to go,» added Carrasco. «We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to determine what’s the next step.»
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