By P.J. Harmer

Staff Writer

ONEONTA — Chris Salamida might have mixed feelings when he makes his professional baseball debut against the Oneonta Tigers tonight.

Then again, he might not.

Oneonta State product Salamida will start on the mound for the Tri-City ValleyCats, who host the O-Tigers at 7 tonight at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.

Tri-City’s stadium is on the campus of Hudson Valley Community College, where Salamida played one season before transfe[an error occurred while processing this directive]rring to O-State. The setting is also about a mile away from Salamida’s hometown of Watervliet.

"I was a little nervous on the bus ride here, but I plan on getting it all out in the bullpen (today)," Salamida said Wednesday, before Tri-City beat the host Tigers, 11-4. "I’m just taking it day-by-day. I’m practicing and doing the things I have to do to get better."

Salamida will be on pitch count, Tri-City manager Gregg Langbehn said. He’ll face Oneonta’s Jeff Gerbe.

"I thought (Salamida) was from Oneonta," Langbehn said. "I know he’s really excited. We kind of tweaked our rotation so he would pitch at home first.

"I haven’t seen him pitch yet," he continued. "We’re really looking for some good things out of him this summer."

The Houston Astros drafted Salamida earlier this month, following his junior season with the Red Dragons. Salamida, who went 8-2 at O-State this past spring, went in the 13th round of the First-Year Player Draft.

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P.J. Harmer can be reached at mailto:pharmer@thedailystar.com">pharmer@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 229.