The Astros claimed Lance Pendleton off waivers from the Yankees on Friday, just three days following him being designated for assignment.
He'll join Houston on Saturday in the midst of their three-game series against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park and will likely be utilized out of the bullpen for the rest of the season.
"It has been an interesting week," Pendleton said via a phone interview Friday. "I got on the computer this morning and saw an email from the Yankees with a form asking if I would accept my outright assignment. I thought that I had cleared waivers. My first thought was, 'This stinks.' I called my agent and he told me that it's just a precautionary email from the Yankees. Within 30 minutes, the Yankees GM, Brian Cashman, called and told me about the Astros. Ed Wade called a few minutes later.
"I went from being sad to saying this is awesome."
Pendleton, a Kingwood HS and Rice University product, was selected by the Astros in the Rule 5 Draft last offseason and attended Major League camp with the Astros during Spring Training, where he competed for a rotation spot and later a bullpen role.
However, Pendleton didn't make the Opening Day roster, causing Houston to return the 27-year-old right-hander to New York on March 27.
Wade made it known at the time that Houston attempted to work out a trade with the Yankess in order to get Pendleton back.
The Yankees decided to hold onto him.
After beginning the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pendleton made his major league debut with the Yankees on April 15 against Texas, tossing three shutout innings of relief without surrendering a hit in New York's 5-3 loss at Yankee Stadium.
Pendleton recalls April 15 very well, telling Examiner.com that it was exciting, yet stressful upon receiving the good news of his call-up.
"I was already in uniform for Scranton," Pendleton said. "I was called over because they had something to tell me. There had been rumors going around in the clubhouse that a pitcher or two may get demoted to Double-A due to injuries down there. I didn't want that to happen to me. When they said they need to talk to me, I was like, 'Oh no.' Instead, they told me that I'm getting called up and that I've got a little less than four hours to drive to New York to make it to the game on time. It was kind of stressful, because I had to rush back to my place, gather my family and some stuff. I had to find a sitter for my dog.
"When I got there, I got dressed and the game was about to start. I made my way out to the bullpen. [Joe] Girardi said hi to me. Someone told him I was there and he introduced himself. When I got into the game, I finally got in the dugout after the first inning I pitched. That's when Larry Rothschild came over and said, 'Hey, good job. You've got the rest of the game, as long as it stays this way. By the way, my name is Larry. It's nice to meet you.'
"I already knew Joba Chamberlain and Dave Robertson. I kind of knew Phil Hughes. Some of the other guys I had known a little for a few years. It helped a lot to have some faces I knew. With all the superstars, you know their names because it is Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. It made it easier, because you didn't have to learn everyone's names. You just had to figure out what you were going to call them, whether it be A-Rod or Jeter."
Pendleton went 0-0 with a 3.21 ERA and eight strikeouts over 14 innings in 11 relief appearances for the Yankees this season.
He shifted back and forth between Triple-A and the Yankees, spending the majority of the regular season in the rotation at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Pendleton posted a 3-4 record with a 3.10 ERA over 66 2/3 innings in 18 games (10 starts) at Triple-A.
Although Pendleton takes pride in contributing to the Yankees this season, he admits it would have been a dream come true had things worked out differently with him breaking camp this past spring wearing an Astros uniform and starting the year in Houston.
Ultimately, it became a better late than never scenario.
"I may have been in New York and Scranton throughout the year, but I got online and kept up with the Astros," Pendleton said. "I have kept up with the potential sale of the team to Jim Crane. I kept up when Hunter Pence, Michael Bourn and Jeff Keppinger got traded. I saw they got a lot of young arms in return. When I saw that, I didn't think I would ever get a shot again in Houston, especially with the young arms to choose from.
"Jose Altuve, J.D. Martinez and Jimmy Paredes are creating plenty of excitement. I already know those guys. Jimmy and I were in the Yankees' system together before he got traded last season to Houston for Lance Berkman. Luckily enough, I'm going to get a chance. I'll fly up to Washington early in the morning to join the Astros. I'll suit up with the team I grew up watching."
Despite the young pitching evolving in Houston's farm system, Pendleton built a solid rapport with the Astros during Spring Training, leaving open the possibility that something could transpire down the road if things didn't work out for him with the Yankees.
"I really enjoyed my six weeks with the Astros this spring," he said. "I had the feeling everyone liked what I had. I just didn't show it enough to make them take the chance they needed to on me, with the Rule 5 label and all. This game is very ironic. Things can happen so quickly. You just never know. Maybe I was going to get another chance with the Astros, and now I am.
"My dad and I have talked about it. We both said, 'You never know what's going to happen.' I try to focus on excellence, not success."
As the third player from Kingwood to play in the big leagues, Pendleton wants to do his hometown proud while pitching in the local uniform.
"I've gotten like 40 text messages and a ton of voice mails," Pendleton said. "My parents will probably go to most of the remaining Astros' home games. My wife will probably go to Wednesday's day game against the Philadelphia Phillies. We are expecting our second son in October. I'm really excited about that.
"This is all just amazing."
With 19 games remaining for the Astros in 2011, Pendleton wants to prove to the organization that he's worthy of a 40-man roster spot.
"When they give me the ball, all I know is that I have to go out there and throw strikes," Pendleton said. "Hopefully, playing for the Astros can become a long-term thing for me. I need to show Ed Wade and the Astros that I'm worthy of that 40-man roster spot. I need to lay down a good foundation. When I'm called upon to pitch, I need to do my best to help them make up their minds."
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