Jesus Flores took only a small step on Thursday night. He hit a home run for the first time in two years. He gave his team a lead in a scoreless game. For a guy who only gets to play two or three times a week that will have to do. Missing the better part of two baseball season has a way of tweaking your perspective.
But make no mistake – Flores believes he can still be the player who in May of 2009 looked like Washington’s catcher of the future before a foul ball and subsequent shoulder injury derailed his promising career. He will not turn 27 until after the season. There is still time.
“I feel healthy. I know that’s enough for me to just be even better guy than I was before,” Flores said. “I know this year has been more my comeback year, get used to everything again. But it’s not like I don’t know what to do. It’s just like get ready, get used to it and get ready for next year.”
But will that be enough. Since his injury, fellow Venezuelan Wilson Ramos has taken over as the No. 1 catcher. Top prospect Derek Norris is heating up at Double-A Harrisburg late in the season with homers in three straight games and still showing elite plate discipline – even if his batting average has stayed low all season (.210). David Freitas (.418 on-base percentage) is showing similar skills at low-A Hagerstown and many in the front office see him as a viable option down the road.
And, of course, Flores only got his chance to return to the majors because of the left oblique strain that has knocked Ivan Rodriguez out of the lineup since early July. But one step at a time. Flores wants to get his timing back, force his way into the lineup maybe an extra day or two a week and take advantage of his chance as long as Rodriguez remains hurt.
“I’ve said before I think this organization has a multitude of quality catchers – better than any organization I’ve been with,” Washington manager Davey Johnson said. “ Not overlooking [Rodriguez]. Pudge is a great catcher. He’s a little under the weather right now. But you want all the players to play to their potential. Just makes them more valuable to the ballclub and also other ballclubs have needs. It’s a good situation.”
Indeed, Flores could very well be creating an opportunity for himself somewhere else. His goal for the rest of 2011 is to set himself up to make a run at more playing time in 2012 – with the Nats or another team that needs an upgrade at catcher. But there’s the catch-22: He has to prove himself again first, both at the plate and in the field, where teams have run on him consistently. Flores said he hopes to play winter ball again in Venezuela in the offseason provided he gets the go-ahead from Washington’s front office. They’ll determine how often Flores will play back home. But given the amount of time he’s missed and his current reserve role every at-bat seems crucial between now and spring training
“A lot of people had their doubts,” said teammate Jordan Zimmermann, who spent much of 2010 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery at extended spring training in Viera, Fla. while Flores was also there rehabbing his shoulder after surgery. “Just a credit to how much work he put in to get to where he is now. He had a hard time throwing it back [to the pitcher’s mound]. Obviously, he wasn’t healthy at that time. But I think he’s healthy now and everything’s going good for him.”
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