Chapel Hill native Mike Minor’s major league story has been one of resilience as the 2006 Forrest graduate clawed his way back to a starting role with the Texas Rangers after a series of injuries temporarily derailed a promising career for the former first round pick by the Atlanta Braves in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft.

All the uncertainty and hard work paid off for Minor when he was recently selected as a member of the American League All-Star squad.

It is Minor’s first selection as an All-Star for the game to be played at the Cleveland Indians’ Progressive Field on July 9.

“I don't think we could be more proud of Mike,” Forrest baseball coach and former teammate of Minor’s Andy Burkett said. “Growing up, we always knew Mike would be a special talent, but to see his dream of becoming an MLB All-Star come to fruition is truly something special.”

“He has made the entire community of Chapel Hill proud, and it’s amazing to see his hard work and dedication pay off.”

Burkett played with Minor on the Rockets for three seasons and he knew he was in the presence of a special player, saying, “I played with Mike my first three years in high school ball and it was a surreal experience. It felt like I learned something new from Mike every time he took the mound.”

Minor turned down a pro contract by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to attend Vanderbilt University and he went on to have to have stellar career with the Commodores and with Team USA before being drafted by the Braves.

“Above everything else, Mike was the epitome of what it means to be a competitor,” Burkett said. “He hated losing, and carried the weight of losses much heavier than the rest of us.”

“That same type of competitiveness is what we try to ingrain in all the players that come through the Forrest baseball program.”

Minor played in the minor leagues before making his major league debut on August 9, 2010 when he faced the Houston Astros and went six innings in a no-decision.

Eight days later, Minor took the mound at Turner Field for his home debut versus the Washington Nationals in front of a bevy of hometown fans and came up huge, tossing six innings of five-hit ball to pick up his first major league victory.

Minor spent six seasons with the Braves, compiling a 38-36 record and opted for free agency after missing much of the 2015 season before having shoulder surgery.

The Kansas Royals signed Minor to a free agent contract and he also spent the 2016 season on the shelf.

“There were a lot of people who doubted that Mike would ever return to form after the injuries he went through awhile back,” Burkett said. “I think more than anything else, it is a testament to his determination and willpower that he is back and better than ever.”

“He absolutely refused to let that be the end of the road for him, and for the people that know him well, Mike spent a substantial amount of time in the gym, both getting stronger and rehabilitating his body.”

The 2017 season was when Minor began to make his comeback, pitching out of the bullpen for the Royals and he regained his form in earnest, becoming an awesome fireman as he finished the season with a 2.55 ERA in 77.2 innings on the mound.

Minor ended up with six saves and 88 strikeouts, but his desire to return to the starting role was still burning bright and because of that fire, he signed a free agent contract with the Texas Rangers in 2018.

Last season he posted a 12-8 record in 28 starts and his comeback was complete when he earned his way to the ace of the Rangers’ staff this year.

“It seems that he has really evolved as a pitcher as well,” Burkett said. “Not only is he throwing a variety of pitches with immense success, but his velocity is up, his spin rate is up, and he just seems as dialed in as he has ever been. Again, to see him reap the rewards of his hard work and persevere through those setbacks is inspiring to say the least.”

Minor is currently 8-4 with two complete games and is second in MLB in earned run average with a stingy 2.40 mark.

He is 3-0 in June with two no-decisions and has struck out 110 batters and walked 37.

It’s hard to believe it has been 10 years now since Minor was drafted and the former Rocket great has a great future in front of him now that he is healthy once again.

When he takes the field next Tuesday in the All-Star game it will be a gratifying moment to him and all his longtime fans that have been pulling for him.

“It’s incredible, absolutely incredible,” Burkett said. “I heard someone say the other day ‘it’s amazing that a guy from little ole' Chapel Hill made the MLB All-Star team’, but honestly, Mike was a star at Forrest, a star at Vanderbilt, and to now see him as a star in Major League Baseball is deserving and well-worth the wait.”

“The entire community is beyond proud of him, and like everyone else, I eagerly await to see what the future holds for Mike Minor.”