MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - One week ago, recent Penn State Harrisburg graduate and former standout pitcher Zach Gettys became the first baseball player in program history to continue his career in the professional ranks. 

Gettys made his professional debut for the Empire State Greys of the Major League Baseball-Partnered Frontier League on Wednesday night, June 15. He threw one inning of relief and picked up the first strikeout of his professional career during an outing against the Sussex County Miners. He followed it up by tossing a scoreless seventh stanza and striking out two more in a game against the New Jersey Jackals last night. 

The lefty got his big break with the help of a familiar name from his hometown of York, Pa. Mark Mason, manager of the York Revolution, gave Gettys a call earlier this spring informing him that Greys owner and assistant coach Eddie Gonzalez was looking for pitching help. Gettys and Mason had been in contact months earlier and it appeared an opportunity in one of the independent leagues was on the horizon, possibly in New York or Arizona. But as fate would have it, the Frontier League was looking to add a 16th team for the 2022 campaign. Enter the Greys. Gonzalez served as an assistant on Mason's Revolution staff in 2021 and that connection ultimately paved the way for Gettys to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing professional baseball. 

"I just got the call a couple days ago to come to New Jersey and then it finally sunk in," said Gettys. "Since the time I first picked up a baseball, I've always wanted to do this. During my time at Penn State Harrisburg, I didn't put much thought into it but now a dream I've had since I was eight years old is coming true. It's emotional and just crazy to be able to play at the next level. Not many people get to do what I'm about to do."

But make no mistake, there's more to Gettys' next step than good fortune. His chance to play pro ball was made possible through a commitment to the blue collar principles that have defined Penn State Harrisburg baseball in recent years - preparation, sacrifice, hard work. With a diploma fresh in hand and a job offer on the table, the education major chose instead to take advantage of this opportunity forged on the mound in Middletown these past four-plus years.

"Every year I felt like I was getting better," said Gettys regarding his career's upward trajectory. "This year, what helped was having perspective on and off the field. I was just excited and grateful to train and lift and go to practice. Literally thanking God while planking and stuff like that. I knew this was my last run. I committed to pushing myself one last time and it all ended up coming out on the field. Confidence has always been the biggest thing for me. I just believed I was going to do well and it showed. If you don't believe that, it's probably not going to happen." 

During his final campaign, that dedication paid off in a big way. Earning the nickname "showtime" from his teammates due to his penchant for turning in dazzling performances on the bump, Gettys emerged as one of the top starting pitchers in Division III in 2022. He secured first-team all-region accolades from both the ABCA/Rawlings and D3baseball.com after he was named the United East Pitcher of the Year earlier this spring. The senior picked up first-team all-conference honors after ranking 16th in the nation in wins (9). He also ranked 24th among Division III pitchers with 96 total strikeouts, as well as 27th in the country in strikeouts per nine innings (12.52). The West York alum finished the year with a 3.00 ERA and a pair of saves after holding opposing hitters to a .202 batting average. He wrapped up his illustrious career as Penn State Harrisburg's all-time leader in wins (21), strikeouts (281), innings pitched (235.1), and starts (45).

With a memorable collegiate resume that includes three NCAA Tournament appearances, a pair of conference championships, multiple all-region and all-conference honors, and nearly 300 career strikeouts in tow, Gettys turns his attention to some of the best competition in the country. In a few short days, the Greys face the Tri-City ValleyCats and Gettys will occupy the dugout across from 2021 first-round pick (10th overall) Kumar Rocker; a star pitcher for the 2019 Division I National Champions from Vanderbilt.

"I remember coming in as freshman and thinking Christopher Newport was a challenge," said Gettys with laugh. "I followed these guys collegiately and professionally and now I get the chance to play against them. It'll be interesting living out of a hotel until September but I'm excited to travel and see some new cities. I'm hoping to meet some new guys, make some new friends, and make some great memories."

The first of those memories was made just seven days ago when he took the rubber as a pro for the first time. He made more by punching out a pair of batters at Yogi Berra Stadium on Tuesday night. With those moments in the books and the bulk of Frontier League season still ahead of him, Gettys seems poised to attack the rest of the summer the same way he did while representing the Blue & White - with an infectious confidence. 

"I like to lead by how I play," he said. "On game days, I like to have fun because the less you overthink and the more fun you have with it, the more loose you can play. Sometimes you just have to get that swagger going. You have to tell yourself you're the best. Envision doing what you want. Tell yourself you'll find a way. Believe that what you speak into the world will manifest itself. It's all about confidence."

Sounds like it's showtime. 

The Empire State Greys, the Frontier League's lone team to play all its games on the road, are based out of New York and coached and operated by Empire League executives. The club's name honors the fact that the Greys will be the away team wearing grey pants for each game.