TUCSON, Ariz.-
Dave Veres doesn’t want to be known as just a feel-good story from spring training, a pitcher who tries to return to the majors after a hip replacement. He wants to make the Colorado Rockies bullpen.
The 12-year veteran has pitched in six postseason series and has 95 career saves but is now trying to make the Rockies squad as a non-roster invitee.
“It is going pretty good. There are no setbacks,” said Veres, 40. “Hopefully if something is going to happen, it would happen by now.”
Bo Jackson returned to baseball after hip replacement for the 1993 and 1994 seasons, hitting a combined 29 homers for the Chicago White Sox and the California Angels.
But no major league pitcher has returned to the mound after the procedure.
Veres originally sought the surgery just so he could race with his four kids and attend their sporting events without extensive pain.
“Baseball was the last thing on my mind back then,” Veres said. “I was tired of not being able to sleep, or walk. I could not play with my kids. …
“The clincher was when my (6-year old) son and I were taking the trash out. We have a winding driveway. He said, ‘Let’s race back to the house.’ I knew when he had to stop every five or six steps and wait for me that it was time.”
After extensive rehabilitation, Veres said, he is starting to feel better than ever. Suddenly, a pitcher whose last major league appearance was Oct. 15, 2003, in the National League Championship Series with St. Louis, thought about playing again.
Veres had saved 31 games for Colorado in 1999 and asked the Rockies for another shot.
“It is a great story already,” Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. “The finish is in front of us. If anybody can overcome it and accomplish this, we believe David is the guy who can. He has great experience and his work ethic is second to none. He has some veteran leadership he can provide.
“We have put him through rigorous set of testings in the off season and the hip has not been an issue. We are in uncharted territory, and so is he.”
Veres is throwing bullpen work this spring just like Colorado starters Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook, and along side Rockies bullpen ace Brian Fuentes.
“He has a great desire to finish this thing on his own accord, and not have an injury actually shut him down. We are all pulling for him,” Hurdle said.
Notes:@ The Rockies signed pitcher Mike DeJean to a non-roster contract on Thursday. He is expected to report to camp to continue rehab on a right shoulder injury. He was 1-0 last year with Colorado before suffering shoulder pain. … Non-roster pitcher Danny Graves is listed as day-to-day after injuring his left oblique muscle while bunting Thursday.
