James Karinchak headed to the Big Leagues

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University baseball alum James Karinchak received the call of a lifetime on Thursday afternoon as he was promoted to the Cleveland Indians.

Selected in the ninth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, Karinchak is just the second player in program history to make it to the MLB, joining Keith MacWhorter.

Karinchak has been one of the most dominant relievers in the minors this year, striking out 74 in just 30.1 innings. He's 1-1 with a 2.67 ERA and eight saves in 30 games between AA Akron and AAA Columbus. Karinchak is the 21st-best prospect in Cleveland's farm system.

The hard-throwing righty played three seasons in Smithfield, going 26-11 with a 2.83 ERA and 272 strikeouts in his career. Karinchak was named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year after winning eight games as a freshman in 2015. He enjoyed the best season for a pitcher in program history in 2016, going 12-3 with a program-record 112 strikeouts and a 2.00 ERA on his way to All-American honors.

Karinchak will most likely make his Major League debut this weekend when the Indians host the Minnesota Twins in a three-game series.