Brendan Rodgers stood at his locker working in a new glove, using a small mallet to pound at the leather, creating that unmistakable popping sound that so gloriously accompanies every baseball game.
He hasn’t been able to create that sound the old fashioned way in a live baseball game for eight months. His energy is infectious. He knows what is about to happen. He has literally been counting the days.
“It’s been eight months and about 10 days or so,” he says. “I just can’t wait to get back out there.”
Rodgers had surgery in July to repair a torn labrum and some early timetables had him remaining on the shelf until at least May, meaning he might not be able to help the big league club in any way until the middle of the 2020 season at the earliest.
But he attacked the offseason with every intention of pushing that date closer to the beginning of the season.
“[Trainer Keith Dugger] told me the first few months are the hardest but I was able to start lifting weights in the 3-5 month period and I felt good and just kept pushing. I busted my butt to get where I’m at right now.”
And where is he right now? About to make his Spring Training debut, at DH, on March 5. He says he thinks he will be ready for full action by the end of the week. This means that the Rockies could have the most highly touted prospect they’ve had… maybe ever… ready to go for the start of the season.
It was a grueling process, Rodgers says. He had a team of physical trainers and therapists working with him non-stop. “They had me doing things I didn’t know I was capable of,” he says, adding “they really kicked my butt, and I needed it. I think that will be my offseason from now on.”
It is invigorating to be around someone so close to returning to something they love and witnessing first hand their unbridled passion for it. Rodgers was focused. He was excited. And he is ready to get back on the diamond.
“I feel great,” he says. “Body feels good. Confidence level. Everything is in the right place right now. I’m just excited to get back out there.”
The last time we saw Rodgers on a baseball diamond, he was struggling to showcase the power he displayed in the minors, hitting just .224 and slugging just .250 in his first 81 plate appearances in MLB.
Small sample size caveats aside, Rodgers says he was able to treat the entire season, including the unfortunate way it ended, as a learning experience.
“A hundred percent. I learned a lot,” he says. “I think the biggest thing that I learned is that I need to take care of my body no matter the circumstances. I got a cup of tea. And it’s crazy what the altitude does to your body. You can ask anyone in this room, I’m sure they’ll vouch. Just the stress on your legs and your arms and back, really anywhere. What goes into your body is what fuels you. So, I’ve learned I need to take the anti-inflammatory stuff and the drinks that help you recover. I’ve been watching a lot of guys like Chuck and Story and how these guys take care of their body. That’s definitely the biggest thing I learned.”
If all the hard work has truly paid off, the chances that we finally see the version of Rodgers that we’ve long been anticipating is pretty high. Especially if his vigor and confidence have anything to do with it.
I asked if he had any specific goals for the upcoming season in terms of games played or statistical achievements.
“I have those mental goals,” he replied. “I kinda wanna leak them at the end of the year and kinda see if… not if when… I reach my mental goals. I have them written down in my head and on my phone and I’ll keep them there for now. I’m just ecstatic, man. Just ready to get out there with the guys and show people that I’m healthy and ready to go.”
Standing at his locker, anxiously preparing for the moment all the excruciating rehab has been building toward… he certainly looks ready.
