How Long Can You Wait?

by Richard Fenton & Andrea Waltz

Luis A. Atilano, born on May 10, 1985, in Santurce, Puerto Rico, knows what it's like to wait. And wait. And wait. Who is Luis Atilano? He is a pitcher for the Washington Nationals - a very new pitcher, having pitched in only two major league games.

Before joining the club this season, Atilano pitched for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the A-Level Carolina League, where he accrued a won-loss record of 6-7 and an ERA (earned run average) of 4.50 in 18 starts and 1 relief appearance. Translation: he was not pitching well. In fact, he pitched only two complete games for Myrtle Beach before an elbow injury in early August ended his season. How long was Atilano in the minors? Eight years. Eight... long... years.

It's reasonable to say that Atilano didn't have much of a chance to make the majors. After all, every pitch he threw in the minors was one more tork-applying-pitch on an arm that was getting older, not younger. But there he was on the mound for the Washington Nationals on April 23, 2010, taking the ball in hand and hurling it the 60 feet, 6 inches to home plate... allowing just one run on five hits in a 5-1 Nationals victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 23, 2010. Was it worth the wait? Come on.

Will it be worth the wait for you, too, when you finally arrive? Come on. You know it will.

P.S. Wednesday, April 28, he took the mound again against the Chicago Cubs. He is now 2-0.