'We made it': Rave's late father a presence as family celebrates MLB debut

KANSAS CITY -- When John Rave found out he was headed to the big leagues on Sunday, he picked up the phone and called the list of people who mean more to him than anything else: His wife, Amy; his mom, Sue; his brother, Matt; and his sister, Sarah.

John rushed to tell them the news of his promotion to Kansas City. He just had no idea if they could hear him because of spotty cell service in the visiting clubhouse in Triple-A Salt Lake.

“He said, ‘I have really bad service, can you hear any of this?’” Matt said on Monday. “And I’m yelling back, ‘Yes, yes I can hear you. We’ll be there tomorrow.’”

The Rave family all made it to Kauffman Stadium for John’s Major League debut and watched him hit sixth and play right field in the Royals’ 7-4 loss to the Reds. Rave struck out twice, but he laid down a sacrifice bunt in the seventh inning -- originally ruled a hit before a Cincinnati challenge overturned it -- to set up a run. He walked in the ninth with Kansas City threatening a comeback that fell short.

There’s one call Rave wished he could have made in addition to the rest, spotty cell service and all.

His dad.

Mike Rave died unexpectedly in February 2020, and John has kept his memory alive with every box he’s checked on his long journey to the big leagues. Mike was there when the Royals selected John in the fifth round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of Illinois State and when John began what would ultimately be parts of seven seasons through the Minor Leagues.

“It didn’t matter whether it was school or sports or whatever it might have been, he was always in our corner,” Matt said of Mike. “We always had that support coming from him. All of us felt that. No question that we can feel his presence today.”

Throughout his journey, Rave has watched seven teammates from his Draft class reach the Major Leagues. He’s received invitations to three big league Spring Training camps. He’s spent time in Triple-A for parts of four seasons. He was passed on being added to the 40-man roster in the offseason and passed on in the Rule 5 Draft.

Rave has tried to never let it get to him.

“You try to put your head down and go about your business the right way,” Rave said. “Continuing to have good at-bats, play good defense, be good on the basepaths. All that stuff kind of adds up, and people start to notice. And if you get your opportunity, go make the most of it.”

Rave has his dad to thank for that mindset.

“Our dad instilled in us coming up to just play hard whatever you do,” Rave said. “As long as you play hard, that speaks volume of your character and who you are. Don’t get caught being lazy. We were always playing different sports. And laziness wasn’t a part of it.”

That’s really how Rave has gotten to this point. He undoubtedly earned the opportunity by beating Triple-A, posting a .931 OPS at the level this year. And he’s what people in the sports world like to call a ‘grinder.’ He lays down bunts, like he did on the first pitch he saw in the seventh inning on Monday, plays good defense in all three outfield spots and puts an emphasis on his baserunning.

“That’s winning baseball, and we need guys to play that way,” general manager J.J. Picollo said.

According to Matt, that style of play and the mindset to stick with it is “all John has ever known,” growing up in Bloomington, Ill., and trailing his big brother around to all the different sports they played. John played basketball in high school, too, but after the Red Sox took him in the 35th round of the 2016 MLB Draft, he was all-in on baseball and went to Illinois State to develop.

The Royals took notice of Rave’s skillset leading up to the ‘19 Draft. That was the year they drafted Bobby Witt Jr., Alec Marsh, Vinnie Pasquantino, Michael Massey and others who have become big leaguers.

Now Rave is a part of that group.

Rave wished his dad was here to see it, but he still felt Mike’s presence at the ballpark -- like when his teammates let Rave be the first to run onto the field ahead of the first inning, and when he stepped into the box for his first at-bat.

“That’s part of the emotions for sure,” Rave said. “I’ll look up and say something in my head. Kind of a, ‘We made it,’ moment.”