It’s been crazy,” said McCusker in the Twins clubhouse on Sunday morning. “Drove up here last night, got in pretty late. But pure excitement, and just ready to go.”

On their Web site, the ValleyCats list 116 former players who have reached the major leagues since the franchise began in 2002. But pitcher Kumar Rocker is the only other ValleyCat to get to the big leagues since Tri-City lost its MLB affiliate with the Houston Astros and became an independent-league franchise in 2021.

Carson McCusker was roaming the outfield of Joseph L. Bruno stadium as a member of the Tri-City ValleyCats. Sunday afternoon, the former undrafted free agent stepped to the plate in a Major League Baseball game.