Ex-Jaspers walk-on gets 1st MLB call-up for Sawx

When Joe Jacques returned to his apartment Thursday night and saw he had missed a call from Triple-A Worcester manager Chad Tracy, he didn’t know what had happened. It had started as just a normal game night, but when Jacques called back, he sensed something was different.

“How would you like to play in Yankee Stadium [Friday]?” Tracy asked.

The question made Jacques, a left-handed reliever who went to Red Bank (N.J.) Regional High School and was a walk-on at Manhattan, shiver. He was shocked. The 28-year-old would have the chance to make his MLB debut with more than 100 family members and friends in attendance throughout the Red Sox’s series against the Yankees in The Bronx.

“It’s really just a dream come true,” said Jacques, who did not pitch Friday in Boston’s seriesopening 3-2 victory. “It’s been a whirlwind, but, I mean, I’m at a loss for words for being able to make my debut here.”

At times during his lengthy baseball journey, a chance to pitch in the majors seemed distant, especially a decade ago, when Jacques made an academic deposit to attend Florida Atlantic. About a month before Jacques would’ve started attending FAU, he convinced himself that he would regret not trying out for a college team. “You just can’t tell me I can’t compete at this level,” Jacques said he thought at the time.

So he walked into the office of Jim Duffy, then Manhattan’s head coach, was impressive throughout the tryout and not only made the team but also took a spot in the Jaspers’ starting rotation. Jacques recorded 206 strikeouts across his five-year career, and he was drafted in the 33rd round in 2018 by the Pirates, his organization until the Red Sox snagged him in December.