Major League Baseball

McCullers - and his family - ready for big league debut Monday vs. A's

Published May. 18, 2015 3:41 a.m. ET

foxsports

Lance McCullers, Jr. is the latest super-prospect in the Houston Astros system to be called up to the big-league club. He'll take the ball Monday night against the visiting Oakland A's for his Major League debut, and it's safe to say he and his family are looking forward to the chance he's been given.

The 21-year-old spent Sunday with his new Astros teammates, and as Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle reported, McCullers is ready to begin a new era: “It feels surreal. It definitely was before I got here, and now that I’m here it’s starting to soak in a little bit. I’m just really fortunate to be here.”

McCullers will have a sizable portion of the Minute Maid Park stands devoted to him, as his parents, grandfather, fiancee, brothers, future parents-in-law, high school coaches and friends will all be in attendance for the big day.

Manager A.J. Hinch likes what he's seen from the young right-hander thus far, and seems confident that he'll handle himself just fine in the Majors: “He’s got a lot of support system inside his own family. That’s nice to have. I just think he’s a mature kid that has a very good way about himself. He knows his way around clubhouses. He knows his strengths. He’s been working toward this goal forever. He’s just very grounded. When he comes in here, he's very appreciative of the opportunity. He doesn't seem too high or too low. He's got a good demeanor about him. He showed that in camp."

The first chapter of his Astros career will be written on Monday evening, and the club is understandably looking forward to seeing just what he has to offer.

(h/t Houston Chronicle)