'I'm grateful ... Today was awesome': Matthew Boyd discusses his return from Tommy John

CLEVELAND — Four hundred and twenty two days.

Four hundred and twenty two days of waiting, of a slow, grueling rehab, of throwing on back fields in front of a crowd of almost zero, of pitching to high school catchers or anyone else who could help out for a while.

Four hundred and twenty two days to get back to a major league mound.

It was worth it.

Matthew Boyd made his Guardians debut in Tuesday night's 2-1 win over the Chicago Cubs .For the Guardians, it was the first time seeing a new addition who could help to bolster the starting rotation down the stretch . For Boyd, it was the finish line of a painfully long rehab from Tommy John surgery last June.

It had been 422 days since Boyd pitched in a major league game — not that he had been counting or anything.

"I mean, I'm grateful. I'm grateful. I'm grateful to be part of this club," Boyd said. "I truly feel blessed to be here. Today was awesome. It was a milestone, but just the beginning, right? … The opportunity that exists here with this team and this ballclub is so special."

Boyd is 33 years old . He's a nine-year major league veteran who had 160 starts under his belt when he went down with the injury. And yet, taking the mound Tuesday night after a major surgery (in which not all pitchers return from, though it's become more common) and a year-plus absence, he felt like a rookie again, at least for one night.

"I was out there on the mound getting cotton mouth and stuff in that first inning," Boyd said. "Had nerves just like [my rookie debut], like it felt similar to that. I think my wife told me last night, we were counting up the days, it was 422 days since my last one. And every one of those days was a blessing, right? Wouldn't wish that on anybody, but man, so much good came form it, and it was special."

Matthew Boyd delivers in return from Tommy John surgery against Chicago Cubs

He didn't just fill a spot in the rotation for a day, either – he delivered. Boyd was terrific, holding the Cubs to one run on three hits and striking out six in 5 1/3 innings. Had it not been his first start of the year after rehab, he likely would have remained in the game even longer, but the Guardians didn't want to push him too far.

"Oh, what a night for Matthew Boyd," said manager Stephen Vogt . "Just the time he put into his rehab, working on his own to get back, [tonight] had to feel so good for him just to take the mound and then let alone give an outing like that first time back. Efficient strikes, just really, really good and just so happy for him and his family."

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Boyd spent parts of his rehab with his arm in a sling. Other times, he'd throw to high school catchers. When the Guardians signed him — an effort to circumvent the difficult realities of the trade market when it came to pitchers at the deadline — Boyd was able to throw with the Guardians minor leaguers.

It was a long road. And for Boyd, it's just good to be back. For those 422 days, he was sidelined, but he knew he wasn't done.

"There'll be a time and a place to watch baseball from the couch, but I don't think it's in the near future," Boyd said. "I do believe I have a lot more ahead of me, and I was really grateful for as hard as those days were, in my heart, I knew what was ahead and tonight held a special place because of that."

Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Threads at @ByRyanLewis .

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 'I'm grateful ... Today was awesome': Matthew Boyd discusses his return from Tommy John