Cal’s calling: Closer
Bishop Noll grad Cal Djuraskovic earns role as ThunderBolts’ fireman in first season as pro
Just a few days after he was signed by the Windy City ThunderBolts, Cal Djuraskovic already had taken on the closer’s role.
“I’m really grateful to get the opportunity to close games,” he said. “I like doing it. It’s one of those roles that’s really fun.
You’ve got to go in there and think your stuff is better than everyone else’s. You have to think, ‘Here’s what I’ve got. Try to beat it.’ “I like that type of role. You give it your best stuff and, boom, the game’s over. It’s all on you. I like that.”
Djuraskovic, a Chicago native who graduated from Bishop Noll in Hammond, is in his rookie professional season after finishing his career at Davenport University this year.
The hard-tossing lefty has produced four scoreless outings and recorded two saves since signing with the T-Bolts on July 20.
Windy City manager Brian Smith expects Djuraskovic to attract the attention of major league scouts.
“If we can get him consistently in the strike zone and try to find a way to give him enough rest to where he can be the best version of himself every time out, they think he has the potential to get out of here,” Smith said. “He’s a big left-hander who can run it up to 95 (mph).”
Djuraskovic has taken an unconventional road to the pros.
He didn’t focus on pitching until his senior season at Bishop Noll.
“I used to be an outfielder, a little bit of first base,” he said. “In high school, not until senior year did I start aggressively pitching.
Senior year, they were like, ‘Hey, let’s have you to try to pitch.’ I found my calling, and I’m grateful for it.”
Djuraskovic had a successful career at Davenport — an NCAA Division II program — capping it with a big season as a fifth-year senior this spring, when he had eight saves and a 2.62 ERA.
He made his pro debut with the Gary SouthShore RailCats in June but was released after three appearances, posting a 4.50 ERA.
“Coming into it right out of the college season, I had thrown a lot more innings than a lot of guys,”
Djuraskovic said. “I had a little bit of mileage. It was tough not putting up the same statistics or the same velocity that I had been.
“I think the biggest thing I needed was rest. Now that’s showing. I’m here, and everything’s clicking.”
After about a month off, Djuraskovic was ready to go with the T-Bolts. Smith certainly was happy to have him.
“It’s nice to get a guy like that so late in the season because those types of guys aren’t usually available,” Smith said. “But he had some time to rest after his time in Gary, and he was excited to get an opportunity to come and pitch here. He knew we were looking for help in the back end of our bullpen.”
Going straight from a college season to a minor league season has been a challenge for Djuraskovic, who is determined to push through the fatigue.
“It’s a process,” he said. “It takes a lot of digging deep for it.
There are a lot of times where you just want to rest. It’s not the time for it now. You have to stay prepared, keep throwing and be ready to go when the opportunity is called.
“This is a great opportunity for me here. I’m excited to be a ThunderBolt. I want to go out there, put up a zero every time, be my best for the team and win the game.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
“I’m really grateful to get the opportunity to close games,” he said. “I like doing it. It’s one of those roles that’s really fun.
You’ve got to go in there and think your stuff is better than everyone else’s. You have to think, ‘Here’s what I’ve got. Try to beat it.’ “I like that type of role. You give it your best stuff and, boom, the game’s over. It’s all on you. I like that.”
Djuraskovic, a Chicago native who graduated from Bishop Noll in Hammond, is in his rookie professional season after finishing his career at Davenport University this year.
The hard-tossing lefty has produced four scoreless outings and recorded two saves since signing with the T-Bolts on July 20.
Windy City manager Brian Smith expects Djuraskovic to attract the attention of major league scouts.
“If we can get him consistently in the strike zone and try to find a way to give him enough rest to where he can be the best version of himself every time out, they think he has the potential to get out of here,” Smith said. “He’s a big left-hander who can run it up to 95 (mph).”
Djuraskovic has taken an unconventional road to the pros.
He didn’t focus on pitching until his senior season at Bishop Noll.
“I used to be an outfielder, a little bit of first base,” he said. “In high school, not until senior year did I start aggressively pitching.
Senior year, they were like, ‘Hey, let’s have you to try to pitch.’ I found my calling, and I’m grateful for it.”
Djuraskovic had a successful career at Davenport — an NCAA Division II program — capping it with a big season as a fifth-year senior this spring, when he had eight saves and a 2.62 ERA.
He made his pro debut with the Gary SouthShore RailCats in June but was released after three appearances, posting a 4.50 ERA.
“Coming into it right out of the college season, I had thrown a lot more innings than a lot of guys,”
Djuraskovic said. “I had a little bit of mileage. It was tough not putting up the same statistics or the same velocity that I had been.
“I think the biggest thing I needed was rest. Now that’s showing. I’m here, and everything’s clicking.”
After about a month off, Djuraskovic was ready to go with the T-Bolts. Smith certainly was happy to have him.
“It’s nice to get a guy like that so late in the season because those types of guys aren’t usually available,” Smith said. “But he had some time to rest after his time in Gary, and he was excited to get an opportunity to come and pitch here. He knew we were looking for help in the back end of our bullpen.”
Going straight from a college season to a minor league season has been a challenge for Djuraskovic, who is determined to push through the fatigue.
“It’s a process,” he said. “It takes a lot of digging deep for it.
There are a lot of times where you just want to rest. It’s not the time for it now. You have to stay prepared, keep throwing and be ready to go when the opportunity is called.
“This is a great opportunity for me here. I’m excited to be a ThunderBolt. I want to go out there, put up a zero every time, be my best for the team and win the game.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
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