Triangle Fans get ready!! Tonight, future HOF star Kevin Youkilis will make his rehab debut with the Pawtucket Red Sox. Hideki Matsui is learning the ropes as a Durham Bull. Thursday, pitcher Daisuke (Dice K) Matsuzaka takes the mound to complete the Yankee/Red Sox reunion in Durham.

How in the world did Durham get so lucky? Hideki Matsui, Kevin Youkilis, and Daisuke Matsuzaka all on the the award winning Durham Bulls field at one time?

Starting tonight, Youkilis will be rehabbing a strained back and Matsui continues to learn the ropes in the minor leagues as he gets his baseball legs back. The Tampa Bay Rays recently signed him and sent him down for a refresher.

As I took a quick break from work to witness the stretching and a few players taking batting practice, I asked... "wait, how did I get so lucky?" I stood on the FOX 50 patio and listened to the sounds of a ball park waking up... and then I, like every excited fan, looked for Hideki Matsui.

With every guy in blue shorts, it was tough to pick out the major league star and I bet that's how Matsui likes it. The media watched every part of practice and was in a frenzy yesterday when he arrived. Thursday night, Daisuke Matsuzaka will take the mound for the Pawtucket Red Sox on as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery.  The Japanese media has been in full force around the ballpark since Matsui arrived to the Durham Bulls on Tuesday May 15th.

Today, I took a few minutes to savor the atmosphere because life is short, you know?  

It's no secret that The Durham Bulls are no strangers to big stars, in fact Rocco Baldelli and Carl Crawford played here. Joe Morgan's number is retired here, and I still swear Nomar Garciaparra walked by me when I worked for the Durham Bulls years ago.

Matsui, Youkilis and Matsuzaka are used to world series rings, big lights and ruthless crowds. As southern folks, we plan to make them feel right at home: 

Tonight they will get a dose of Red Sox/Yankee nation - and this gal is super excited to get the shot to catch a fly ball off the third base side on Thursday!! Hopefully Youkilis will still be in the line up.

The Durham Bulls host USA baseball and often the Japanese National Team will blow into town. It is no surprise that the Bulls are handling this incredibly exciting time with ease. Be sure to catch this home-stand, it's one for the history books.

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