|
Injuries have rocked outfielder Chris Snelling's path to the major leagues. |
BY TODD JACOBSON
VIERA, Fla.
--Nationals outfielder Chris Snelling can tick off a long list of baseball-related injuries that have derailed a once-promising career, but that's nothing compared to what he went through as a child.Among the highlights:
He lost part of his toe when his brother slammed his foot in a door at age 2, though doctors were able to sew it back on.
He needed close to 100 stitches in his head to close a wound after he fell into a brick wall.
He broke his arm jumping into an empty swimming pool as a teenager, and got more stitches when a friend tried to knock off his hat while they were playing miniature golf.
The problem? He tried to use a putter--and connected with Snelling's head.
Needless to say, dealing with injuries have always been a part of Snelling's life. Now, getting past them is his main focus.
"For whatever reasons it happens," said Snelling, who was acquired with right-hander Emiliano Fruto from the Seattle Mariners in a December trade for Jose Vidro. "I can't explain it. I've tried to explain it for the last six years."
It hasn't been easy. Once rated among the top prospects in the Mariners' farm system, Snelling broke into the majors in 2002 at age 20. Then-manager Lou Piniella raved about his swing and a bright future loomed for the Australian native.
Problem was, with a crash-into-any-wall style that has drawn comparisons to Lenny Dykstra, he was breaking bones at a record pace.
He broke his hand in 2000, his ankle in 2001 and tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in 2002--then did it again in 2005. He also broke his wrist and his thumb, and knocked out two teeth. He's had seven surgeries on his injured left knee.
He's accepted that he'll probably never be healthy. His knee still bothers him, he said. It wasn't healthy last season, and likely won't ever be completely right.
But he won't change his style of play.
"The way I look at the way I play is I take pride in what I do," Snelling said. "I think that's a product of growing up in Australia and watching the Australian team play other countries. I don't do anything special. I feel like I have to work hard at it."
Big dreamsEsmailyn Gonzalez, the 17-year-old Dominican-born shortstop signed last summer by the Nationals to a $1.4 million bonus, will report to the Nationals' accelerated minor league program on Sunday, farm director Andy Dunn said.
Washington plans to take it slow with Gonzalez, who trained in the Dominican last summer after he was signed, but Gonzalez seemed to have big plans.
"He asked me if he could make the team this year," said Jose Rijo, a special assistant to general manager Jim Bowden. "What could I tell him?"
Kearns arrivesThough position players aren't due into camp until Sunday, right fielder Austin Kearns joined a steady stream of outfielders and infielders already at Space Coast Stadium when he arrived yesterday.
Also in camp: third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, infielder Josh Wilson, first baseman Larry Broadway, and outfielders Ryan Church, Snelling, Kory Casto and Wayne Lydon.
Todd Jacobson: 540/735-
Email: 1974tjacobson@freelancestar.com
