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Cardinals' Pitcher Returns To Colorado For Big League Debut

DENVER (CBS4)- Wednesday will be a special day at Coors Field for St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Marco Gonzales. He will make his MLB debut against the Colorado Rockies.

Gonzales played baseball for Rocky Mountain High in Fort Collins where he won four state 5A state championships. Gonzales was drafted by the Cardinals in the first round in 2013.

Now just over a year later he'll make his big league debut in his home state.

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Marco Gonzales #74 of the St. Louis Cardinals poses for a portrait during photo day at Roger Dean Stadium on February 24, 2014 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

This after the Colorado Rockies snapped a seven-game losing streak by beating the Cardinals 10-5 on Tuesday night.

Gonzales is happy to have his big debut at home even if he's suited up for the opposing team.

"My dad was just ecstatic. I mean he's yelling on the phone, almost blew my eardrum out. My mom didn't believe me actually and actually tried to hang up from the conversation with me, 'Alright, talk to you later.' I was like, 'Mom, no seriously,'" said Gonzales. "But having them here is going to calm my nerves a little bit. I get to see some family tonight and I'm excited."

Gonzales is not on the Cardinals' 40-man roster so the team will transfer Keith Butler to the 60-day DL. Butler is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

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