Drillers Trade Chris O'Brien Hours Before Opening Game

New Drillers' player Chris O'Brien was set for a Thursday night homecoming, but the Tulsa native with a major league pedigree learned more about the business of baseball just hours before the opening game.

It's not often you can play pro baseball in your home town, and O'Brien was looking forward to it. "It's a good feeling, to finally be in front of family. I mean the affiliates have been across country, so to speak, so it feels good to play here. I've always watched them growing up, but to play in front of family is a good feeling,” O'Brien stated Tuesday, when he thought his trip from Bishop Kelley would allow him to play in front of his family.

He was very eager to play in Tulsa. "You're always going to have the jitters to play in front of fans; I mean, you can't wait for cheers and stuff, [because] it never changes."

O'Brien had some assistance on his path to hopefully becoming a major leaguer, and he didn't have to look far. His father Charlie was a career journeyman catcher in the Bigs, who often offered him tips. "Handling pitching staffs, especially me, handling these young guys, I mean it's good to kind of have his knowledge," O'Brien elaborated.

On Thursday afternoon, just hours before his ONEOK Field debut, O'Brien was traded to the Baltimore Orioles.