Imagine being in Spring Training and you’re hot. Not sweat dripping down your forehead hot, but hitting .375 with five home runs hot.You’re fighting for a roster spot, battling the likes of Irving Falu, Marc Maddox and Kila Kaaihue. Who? Exactly.
For New York Yankee fans, Jeff Nettles’ last name is recognizable. After all, his father, Graig, was possibly the team’s best third basemans of all-time. Don’t even try arguing for Alex Rodriguez yet, Nettles was the guy the team brought in to show A-Rod the ropes.
Nettles once spent time in the Yankees organization, reaching Triple-A in 2002. But, the Yankees had highly-touted prospects at third base — ones that panned out to be nothing — so he was out of a job.
Last season, after four-plus years in independent ball with the Atlantic League’s Somerset Patriots, the freckled-faced 29-year-old got his shot again. The Kansas City Royals purchased his contract and gave him 221 at-bats in Double-A. The result: .267 with eight home runs and 41 RBI.
This off-season, Nettles re-signed with the Royals. At the time, Nettles texted me, “Competing for AAA 3B job. No guarantees. Make the team than we’ll c what happens.”
No guarantees is right. Nettles went 9-for-24 with five home runs — three of them coming in the same game. Instead of saying, come join us in Triple-A, hone your skills a little bit more and we’ll bring you up in about a month, the Royals said “Here’s a pink slip.”
Nettles returned home and texted me again: “It sucks.”
It wouldn’t suck for long. The Baltimore Orioles came calling and the situation couldn’t be more perfect for Nettles.
“It should be a better fit than the Royals. I’m excited. Closer 2 home than the Royals,” Nettles, who lives in New Jersey and will be playing for Double-A Bowie (MD), sent from his phone.
Nettles should get his opportunities with the Orioles. The Birds are in a rebuilding phase and have been known to give guys a chance. This new, unexpected opportunity could prove as a great career move for a guy who used to spend summers at Yankee Stadium.
If anything, he’s out to prove another team wrong for giving up on him.
PDF
His father’s name is “Graig”, not “Craig”.
Has Jeff retired or is he playing somewhere in the 09 season?
He’s back in Somerset this season.