Tim Melville's Long Wait Ends on Sunday

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Tim Melville waited seven years to be able to pitch in a Major League game.  That wait ends in 25 hours.

Melville, 26,  was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in fourth round of the 2008 draft.  He didn't pitch a single game above Double A until last season.  Now he stands in front of the locker used by Bronson Arroyo with a uniform that bears the same number 61 that Arroyo wore.

"I heard he was in this space," Melville said with a smile. "I'm excited. I met him one time. It's such an honor. He was such a great guy and did a lot of nice things. It's pretty cool."

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Melville spent six seasons in the pitching rich Royals organization but had surgery on his elbow in October 2012.  He missed most of the 2013 season, making four appearances in the Royals rookie half-season leagues.

The Detroit Tigers signed him in November 2014 and Melville pitched all season at their Triple A team in Toledo.  He was 7-10 with a 4.63 ERA with the Mud Hens last season but came on strong at the end of the season. Melville was 4-2 in his last nine starts.

Melville was in Toledo with the Louisville Bats when the Reds called him to tell him that he was pitching in Cincinnati on Sunday.  His last outing was a six inning start against the Cleveland Indians in Goodyear, Arizona.  That day he allowed four runs in six innings giving up home runs to Yan Gomes, Mike Napoli and Carlos Santana.

"We tried to catch lightning in a bottle with Tim," Bryan Price said.  "We scouted him and felt he had a better arm than his record indicated.  We felt with a good change up, he could turn his career around."

Melville developed confidence in his change up.

'I can throw it for strikes and use it in any count," Melville said.