Jared Jones, RHP
How hard is it to miss the trip home to California?
Everyone on the planet knows I want to be out there playing right now but I’m in a situation where I can’t, so I just attack it every day with rehab and make sure I feel as best possible when I do come back.
You haven’t been injured much in your career until the lat strain last year and now this. How did you process what happened?
The past two years have probably been the most difficult in my life playing baseball. I’m used to being on the field every day and being healthy. Throughout middle school, high school and until last year, I’ve been able to pitch every start. The news last year sucked. I thought I just got a little tight, then it took me out for two months. Now this one, I don’t know how long it’s been but it’s going to be longer than two months, I know that. It’s been pretty difficult. I’m just getting in the training room and trying to make myself better.
How did you take the news when you were shut down?
The first news, I was kind of in denial just based on how I felt. If we were playing in the World Series, I wouldn’t say anything and just pitch the next day. But we were in spring training and something didn’t feel 100% so I wanted to get it checked out. I’m kind of glad I did because who knows how much worse it could’ve got if I’d kept throwing through it. The second news, being told that I would be cleared to throw after some time and I just need some time off and it will heal itself, that was a pretty good day for me.
What’s your way of coping with not being able to play?
Really, just being around the guys. We’ve got a great group of guys, especially in the rotation. That’s who I spend most of my time with. Getting to watch them throw every fifth day and hanging out in the dugout has been fun. But when they go on the road it sucks. I’ve missed the trip to Dodger Stadium twice now in my career. That’s no fun.
Is that a place where you’ve always dreamed about pitching?
It’s awesome. I grew up going to games at Dodger Stadium, even Angels Stadium. I was a Dodgers fan growing up so pitching at Dodger Stadium would mean a little more to me, but I’ve got to stay healthy to do it.