Carlos Carrasco allowed himself to show some emotion on the mound on Wednesday night. After the Indians starter struck out Evan Gattis to end the sixth inning, Carrasco gave a quick pump of the fist as he headed off the mound amidst groans from the Houston crowd.
The pitcher can be excused for letting down his guard for a moment. Carrasco has experienced a lot since the end of last season. He dealt with a worrisome heart condition in October, welcomed a baby daughter into his growing family near the end of Spring Training and signed a long-term contract with Cleveland on Tuesday.
In his first start of this season, Carrasco overpowered the Astros en route to a 2-0 victory.
“He came out with really explosive stuff,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “And poise. That was really nice to see.”
Following his start, during which Carrasco piled up 10 strikeouts in 6 1/3 shutout innings, the pitcher said that his personal situation played a role in agreeing to sign a four-year, $22-million extension with Cleveland. The deal includes a pair of club options that could keep the right-hander with the Indians through 2020 and the deal has a potential maximum value of $48 million.
The contract looks like a bargain for the Tribe, but holding out for more money was not on Carrasco’s mind. He and his wife, Karelis, have four children to take care of now after the recent birth of their daughter, Emma Victoria. On top of that, Carrasco experienced a recurrence of heart palpitations during Spring Training, though his heartbeat is now being regulated with daily medication.
“I put my family first,” Carrasco said. “With my heart now, everything is good.”
Shortly after the end of last season, though, his heartrate spiked to a dangerous level, convincing Carrasco to undergo a non-invasive procedure on Oct. 8 to help increase blood flow to his heart. The pitcher said the issue first came up in 2011, but neither he nor the team is concerned that it will develop into a more serious long-term problem.
“That was a little bit scary, but I think we did everything in October,” Carrasco said. “I got the surgery and everything now is fine. I’m taking it easy and I take my pills. That’s it. That’s something in the past. I feel great now.”
The Indians’ investment in Carrasco shows their confidence in him and his future.
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