Athletics vs. Braves Wednesday MLB probable pitchers, odds: Unlikely rookie Jared Koenig finally makes big-league debut for Oakland

Remember former Tampa Bay Devil Rays (they were still called Devil Rays then) pitcher Jim Morris? The pitcher had one of the most unlikely roads to the major leagues in modern history with his 1999 debut. Disney made the movie "The Rookie" about it, starring Dennis Quaid as Morris. While the trek that 28-year-old lefty Jared Koenig hasn't been quite that dramatic, it's not too far off and he makes his big-league debut on the mound for the Oakland A's in Atlanta on Wednesday. The A's are +200 underdogs at Caesars Sportsbook.  (See tickets at StubHub)

Koenig began his collegiate career at Central Arizona College and was picked in the 35th round of the 2014 MLB draft by the White Sox, but was not offered a contract by the team along with other late-round picks after signing first rounder Carlos Rodon to an above-slot bonus. Koenig would eventually transfer to Old Dominion and pitch one season there before transferring to Cal State Monterey Bay and pitching one season there.

No team chose him in the 2016 amateur draft, so Koenig spent the 2017-19 seasons pitching in independent leagues with Monterey of the Pecos League, Salina of the American Association, San Rafael of the Pacific Association and Birmingham-Bloomfield of the USBL. He also pitched in the Australian Baseball League, where he was spotted by an Oakland scout. Koenig signed with the A's on a minor-league deal in December 2019, but there was no minor-league season in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.

Koenig showed something in Double-A in 2021 with a 7-5 record and 3.26 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 121.1 innings – the Texas League's Pitcher of the Year -- and this year at Triple-A is 4-2 with a 2.21 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 53 innings. He leads the Pacific Coast League in strikeouts, is second in ERA is holding opposing hitters to a .203 average.

Zach Logue was optioned back to Triple-A last week, opening the door for Koenig to get his shot tonight. Even though he's 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, Koenig doesn't rely so much on velocity. Instead, he focuses on speeds on his pitches.

"The best way to describe him is he's an old-school pitcher," said Steve Connelly, who has been Koenig's pitching coach the last two seasons with Midland and now Las Vegas, in a recent terrific story in The Athletic. "He understands pitching and so he will add and subtract on his fastball all day. I can't count how many times I've seen him go first-pitch fastball of the game at 85 and the next pitch will be 93."

Now Koenig debuts at the defending World Series champions: "It's been a grind and I've done it the hard way," he said.

Atlanta counters with right-hander Ian Anderson (4-3, 4.70 ERA). He allowed five runs and 10 hits last time out, but that was in the thin air of Denver. Anderson hasn't been great at home, though, with a 0-1 record and 6.75 ERA in four starts. 

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