Maine South graduate Brian Schlitter, probably spent a lot of time envisioning his Major League debut as he spent better than three years on the minor league circuit as part of the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs organizations.

Schlitter was called up by the Chicago Cubs on June 26 and was suddenly thrust into his debut on June 28 when relief pitcher John Grabow was injured with a 2-1 count against Pittsburgh’s Paul Maholm and the score tied 1-1.

Schlitter took the mound without warming up in the bullpen but because of the injury he had as much warm-up time as he needed. A lot went through his mind as he took the hill in front of a packed crowd with one out in the top of the seventh inning.

“I was happy to get in and had 1,000 different emotions going through me at once,” Schlitter said. “Coming into that situation with a guy on first and already into the count, I didn’t really have time to let things sink in.

“When I first got out there I just thought ‘Alright, just don’t throw it over the catcher.’ I just had to concentrate on the hitter. Once I threw that first pitch I calmed down a lot.”

Schlitter couldn’t ask for a better result in his debut. He struck out Maholm becoming just the second pitcher since 1990 to record the first strikeout in his Major League debut with less than three strikes.

Former Cub Ronnie Cedeno stole second during the at-bat but he would be stranded there after Schlitter struck out leadoff hitter Jose Tabata to end the seventh.

“I couldn’t ask for anything better,” Schlitter said.

“I’ll tell ya what, I was telling (pitching coach) Larry (Rothschild) that he threw the ball very well,” Cubs skipper Lou Pinella said after the game. “He had a nice power fastball and threw a few nice breaking balls.”

Just getting to the Major Leagues is something that every Little Leaguer dreams of, But the path to ‘The Show’ is long and grueling.

“It’s a long road for some and it can definitely wear on you and test you,” Schlitter said. “You have to keep working hard and keep that little glimpse of hope alive and eventually down the road maybe you can make it.”

Schlitter learned he was getting called to the Cubs by a legend. Peoria Cubs’ manager and Chicago Cub Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg called Schlitter into his office after a game and told him ‘You’re going up. You fly out in the morning. Good luck.’

Schlitter got on the phone and called his mom right away.

“I asked her ‘Are you working tomorrow’ and she said ‘No, why?’ and I told her ‘You’re coming to the game tomorrow against the White Sox’ and she just said ‘No way.’ She knew immediately what I meant.”

Schlitter got off to a rough start in the minors this season with a 7.88 ERA in his first six outings. But he was lights out after that posting a 2.88 ERA in 21 games after May 1.

“In the back of my head I knew there was always a chance but I didn’t want that to get in the way,” Schlitter said about the possibility of being called up to the Bigs. “I just concentrated on the moment, the day. I took every day for what it was worth and if I got in the game, I did the best I could.”

Two days after his debut Schlitter tossed two scoreless innings against the Pirates. He was roughed up by the first-place Cincinnati Reds on July 2 and was placed on the 15-day Disabled List July 7 retroactive to July 3.

“I’m just taking it one step a time,” he said. “You always have to have a goal to achieve for yourself but at the same time you can’t go out and if you have a bad game ‘Now I need to do this and this to get to that.’ You have to put that out of your head.

“The sun is going to rise the next day no matter what so you have to clear the memory and go out there and do it again.”

For Schlitter it all began in Park Ridge. He went to baseball-rich Maine South and played for Bill Milano, who still coaches the Hawks.

As a senior, Schlitter went 8-1 and led Maine South to a playoff win against Lake Park.

“He was a big tall strong kid and threw hard,” Milano said of Schlitter who is listed at 6-feet 5-inches and 240 pounds. “He’s such a hard worker and nothing bothers him. You couldn’t tell the difference if he just got shelled or had five strikeouts. His mental approach really helps him become successful.”

Schlitter remembers his high school days fondly.

“Coach Milano and (Jason) Marsicano are great coaches and they like to have fun out there,” he said. “But at the same time they want to keep it serious and win. They mix it back and forth and if you’re slacking, they’ll tell you that you need to pick it up.”

Schlitter is one of two Maine South graduates in the Major Leagues. Adam Rosales is tearing things up for the Oakland Athletics as their everyday second baseman.

“Maine South is known for its football and they always get a good amount of guys that go to college for football so it kind of overshadows the baseball program,” Schlitter said. “But they still get a lot of guys go play baseball and college and now a couple guys have made it to the Major League level and I’m not sure any Maine South grads have made it to the NFL.”