When Paxton Schultz woke up in Syracuse, New York, on April 15, he was just another member of the Buffalo Bisons’ taxi squad. By the next night, he was on a Major League mound in Toronto, striking out eight Mariners and tying a record for most strikeouts by a reliever in an MLB debut.
“I was just kind of in shock,” Schultz said on Brice and Bianucci on ESPN The Fan. “They told me I was going to be active, and I needed to get to Toronto immediately.” The Blue Jays had a sudden need for bullpen depth, and Schultz, a former standout at Utah Valley University, was thrust into the opportunity of a lifetime.
After packing up, Schultz made the long drive north. “I got in really late, tried to get a few hours of sleep,” he said. “It didn’t feel real until I got to the ballpark the next morning.” The Blue Jays confirmed he’d be available out of the bullpen—an announcement Schultz described as surreal.
Thrown into action that night, Schultz delivered 4.1 shutout innings and fanned eight batters, instantly turning heads in the dugout and across the league. “Once I got that first out, I kind of settled in,” he said. “I just tried to stay in the moment.”
For Schultz, the journey from UVU to the big leagues was already improbable. Making history on debut only added to the story. “I’m just thankful for everyone who believed in me,” he said.
You can hear the full interview below.
