Detroit Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello (pictured left) can testify on the life-altering moment that is the Call-Up.

Sitting before an empty locker with a couple months of spring training firmly behind him, Porcello still couldn’t believe what was happening.

“It doesn’t even feel like I’m packing for Detroit yet,” he admitted to an MLB.com writer at the time. “I think it’ll definitely set in the first game, kind of get to see the atmosphere, that sort of thing.”

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Heading into camp, the 6’5”, 200-lb. right hander knew he had a chance to make it to the majors with little to no professional experience.  There was that slim chance.

Until there wasn’t or so he thought.

Having made the decision to keep Porcello, and fellow rookie hurler Ryan Perry (pictured above right), Tigers skipper Jim Leyland decided to have some fun when he pulled the pair into his office to give them the good news.

“I was just trying to keep a straight face and not look like I was too nervous or anything like that,” Porcello said. “When he said, ‘We’re going to send you down to the Minors,’ I kind of just [dropped my head].

“It wasn’t like it was a far-fetched thing. I knew obviously that was a strong possibility coming into camp, so it wasn’t a big surprise for me. And then, I guess when you make it to the last cut in camp, you hope you’ve got a pretty good shot to make the team.”

When Leyland had enough fun, he admitted it was in the spirit of April Fools and that the duo had achieved their life-long aspiration of making it to the majors.

 “I told [Leyland] that was a sick joke,” said Perry.

Fast forward to present day and the pair are flying high.  Porcello has started two games in the majors, posting a 1-1 record and a 3.75 ERA.  Perry, working from the bullpen, has appeared in six contests allowing just one earned run and fanning five.

With the early success of the pair of rookies, Porcello, Perry and the Tigers couldn’t be happier with Detroit’s choice of putting a Tigers cap on each man’s head instead one representing Toledo.

And that’s no joke.

** Quotes courtesy of MLB.com **