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By Jarrod Prugar
jprugar26@gmail.com
When Justin Meis toed the rubber for the Altoona Curve Friday night, he became the third player in the franchise's 25 year existence to hail from western Pennsylvania.
Meis, a Bethel Park native, joined former Curve second baseman and current Pirates broadcaster Neil Walker (Gibsonia) as well as Trey McGough (Johnstown) on the list.
Playing close to home assuredly has its perks and that's definitely something Walker remembers quite fondly from his time in Altoona.
"Definitely getting home cooked meals and getting laundry done by mom," Walker quipped.
A 10th-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, Meis played collegiately at Eastern Michigan and hasn't spent much time playing above the Mason-Dixon Line since graduating from Bethel Park in 2018.
"It was the first time pitching in the cold weather in a few years after being down in Florida but it felt really good to be close to home,"
Being able to be close to home and have friends and family in attendance is something not many minor leaguers have the opportunity to experience and for Meis it wasn't something he'd been able to have while in Bradenton and Greensboro.
"I had a lot of family and friends here today so that was cool," Meis said. " My family travels wherever I pitch so I'm super thankful for that but I'm happy I'm close to home for them."
Having the chance to play two hours from home for Meis is two-fold. Not only is Bethel Park about two hours away, so is Pittsburgh which is the ultimate goal for Meis and his teammates.
Being so close, yet so far away at the same time can have disadvantages according to Walker.
"The big thing being a Pittsburgher in the organization in Double-A is it's easy to get caught up in what guys are doing at your position on your team, or in AAA or the big leagues," Walker said. "You have to go into each day with "horse blinders" on per se with a mindset of trying to be as consistent as you can be and working toward your strengths."
Meis, though, isn't overly concerned with that aspect of things and embraces how close he is to Pittsburgh and his family.
"I think just going back to it like it's just super cool being close to home when people come see you," Meis said. "I don't feel like there's any added pressure or anything being close to PNC Park or where I grew up. I think the big thing is it's easy for people to come watch and I could see family more often."