TUCSON, Ariz.—For Scott Podsednik, these are like old times in more ways than one.
Not only is he fighting for his professional life again much like he did during a decade in the minor leagues before bursting onto the scene with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2003, but he’s also healthy again.
The light-hitting, speedy center fielder was dogged by injuries much of the last two seasons after serving as the catalyst for the Chicago White Sox’s World Series run in 2005.
He had sports hernia surgery before last season, then batted just .243 with 12 steals and 30 runs in 62 games, spending 11 weeks on the disabled list with a pulled right adductor muscle and another three weeks with a strained left rib cage muscle.
“Most of my game is my legs, so when you don’t have that explosive first step and that ability to run, it’s going to make it tough on a guy like me,” Podsednik said. “I’m not going to drive in a lot of runs. I’m not going to hit a lot of home runs. So, I’ve got to be able to go get the ball in the outfield, be able to get on base and create some havoc on the basepaths. Without that element, I’m not much use.”
Podsednik, who signed a minor league deal with NL champion Colorado over the winter with the chance to win a job as a backup outfielder this spring, said he’s 100 percent.
If so, he could provide the Rockies with some speed on the basepaths following the departure of Kaz Matsui to Houston and also serve as insurance should starting center fielder and leadoff hitter Willy Taveras’ leg injuries dog him again this season.
Taveras missed 68 games last season and was sidelined when the playoffs began.
Podsednik made a good first impression Thursday with an RBI double against Arizona and a nice running catch off the bat of Trot Nixon, the kind of performance he’s going to have to have on a regular basis to dazzle the Rockies, who went with veterans John Mabry and Steve Finley as their backup outfielders last season only to quickly replace them with youngsters Cory Sullivan and Ryan Spilborghs.
Both Sullivan and Spilborghs played key roles in the Rockies’ NL pennant run, as did rookie Seth Smith, who also is in the running for a backup outfield job this year.
“With Podsednik, you got a guy who’s a legitimate leadoff hitter with speed,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “Maybe we can rekindle him.”
Podsednik compares his situation to 2003, when it appeared he was headed for a 10th season in the minors before winning the last roster spot as the Brewers broke camp. By mid-May, he had supplanted Alex Sanchez as the starter in center and went on to finish second to Dontrelle Willis in NL Rookie of the Year balloting.
“That’s what it’s like once again,” the 32-year-old outfielder said. “I mean, it’s a matter of coming in and trying to get some at-bats and prove to these guys that I’m healthy and I’m still able to play. I’ve been in this situation before a few years back, so it’s something I’m familiar with.”
In 2003, Podsednik became just the fourth rookie since 1900 to hit .300 with 100 runs and 40 swipes. He followed that up by stealing 70 bases the next season and was traded to Chicago, where he had his best season in 2005. He made his first All-Star team and led the White Sox to the championship, hitting .286 with a double, three triples, two home runs, six RBIs, nine runs and six stolen bases in a dozen playoff games.
He also got engaged that year and appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show.
“I mean, ’05 was one of the greatest years of my career. A lot of good things happened for me and my family, on and off the field,” Podsednik said. “Definitely some times I’ll look back and reflect upon later in life.”
For now, he’s too busy trying to show the Rockies they can’t break camp without him.
