THEN AND NOW: Former Cub Adam Greenberg, hit in the head by a pitch in his only major league appearance in 2005, signed a one-day contract with the Marlins (above), who will use him as a pinch-hitter against R.A. Dickey and the Mets tonight. (AP)
THEN AND NOW: Former Cub Adam Greenberg, hit in the head by a pitch in his only major league appearance in 2005, signed a one-day contract with the Marlins (inset), who will use him as a pinch-hitter against R.A. Dickey and the Mets tonight. (AP)
MIAMI — R.A. Dickey plans to dig in tonight and treat the Marlins’ new guy just like any other.
In this case, the new guy is 31-year-old outfielder Adam Greenberg, seven years removed from his first and only major league appearance.
Greenberg, then playing for the Cubs, was drilled in the head by the Marlins pitcher Valerio De Los Santos on July 9, 2005. It was the first pitch Greenberg had seen in the major leagues. The Guilford, Conn., native spent the next several years battling post-concussion syndrome, while trying to earn a trip back to the major leagues.
Greenberg never got that shot, but remained in the game, most recently playing for Israel in the World Baseball Classic qualifying round.
The Marlins, with permission from the commissioner’s office, last week signed Greenberg to a one-day contract. He is expected to be used in a pinch-hitting role for the team tonight.
But don’t expect Dickey, in his final start of the season for the Mets, to groove a pitch for Greenberg.
“He’s a big leaguer,” Dickey said before last night’s 3-2 loss to the Marlins. “I am going to treat him like a big leaguer and that is why he is here. I would hope he wouldn’t want anything less than that. If he comes up, he is going to get a steady dose of my best, whatever that is.”
Maybe nobody appreciates Greenberg’s story more than Dickey, who has emerged from the baseball scrap heap to 20-game winner and potential NL Cy Young award winner. Dickey’s own career appeared over on numerous occasions over the last decade, most recently in 2010, when he was the Mets’ first pitcher cut in spring training.
“I’ve been the product of a lot of chances myself so I’m happy he’s getting that opportunity for sure,” Dickey said.
“It’s nice that he is given a second chance, and hopefully he will make the most of it or someone will see something in him that will encourage them to give him a more significant look. It’s a neat story, for sure.”
Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said he will find an appropriate spot for Greenberg to pinch-hit, and the player would not be used defensively.
Greenberg’s last full season came playing for the independent Bridgeport Bluefish in 2011. In a strange twist, he faced De Los Santos that year and singled against him. Greenberg worked out at the Marlins’ complex in Jupiter, Fla., while training for action with Team Israel, and caught the attention of Miami team president David Samson.
Mets manager Terry Collins said he has no qualms with the Marlins giving Greenberg an opportunity.
“There are pros and cons about it, about why does he get the one at-bat and a lot of other guys didn’t?” Collins said. “But he did make it. He was good enough to get there at one time, and if he did not get hit in the head, who knows if he wouldn’t have been a star today?
“I just think it’s a great story for this guy to come up, and with all he’s been through since to try and fight back with all the things he’s had to endure, it’s going to be a great story, and unfortunately he is going to have to face R.A.”