“Sorry man. Jarret’s playing in California. We haven’t had much luck getting a hold of each other with the time difference and our game schedules.”
“Next time maybe take your call elsewhere so we don’t all need to hear you bullshit with yourlittle shadow.” My jaw pops, but I keep my mouth shut. None of the other guys even seemed to have noticed, let alone cared. One thing I’ve learned about this guy is he’s bitter as fuck. I don’t envy Jarrett having to be in the bullpen with him when he eventually gets called up. Miller will see him as a threat. And that’s just going to make his attitude even more unbearable.
Grabbing the dumbbells at my feet, I stand from the bench and continue my workout, using my annoyance with our primadonna pitcher to fuel me.
I tug my hat down tight on my head and squat slightly. My glove and throwing hand meet at the center of my body, ready to explode if the batter gets a hit. Miller starts his wind-up. He’s been hot all night. It’s almost like looking back in time to his rookie season. He’s zeroed in, throwing hard and striking out batters with ease. The pitch is a fastball over the plate and the batter swings, sending it straight back at the pitcher’s mound. There’s not enough time for Miller to react, and the ball catches him on the elbow as he’s trying to turn away, dropping him to the ground where he writhes in pain until the medical staff helps him off the field.
A short while later, when I jog off the field and down the tunnel to our clubhouse, I can hear the chaos before I see it. There’s yelling and a loud crash as I push through the locker room door. In the corner, by the training table, the team doctor is working to calm Miller down while Finley, one of the training staff, cowers in the corner. Her eyes are wide as she shrinks back further, trying to put more space between her and Miller. Coach is still on the field talking with reporters and I’m one of the few players that got out of post-game interviews and made it down here.
“Hey, you okay?” I ask over my shoulder as I step between her and the commotion. She nods, but stays behind me. From the tremble in her lip and how her shoulders are turned in, I can tell she’s still shaken. “Want me to get you out of here?”
“Please.” Her voice is timid, but she’s at least looking at me instead of the ground now.
“Let’s go.” I motion for her to join me as I turn around to keep myself between her and Miller. She leads the way out of the locker room as I follow.
“Thank you for getting me out of there. I don’t like confrontation at all.” Her voice is steadier now that she’s got the physical barrier of being outside the locker room.
“Not a problem. What happened there?” Miller’s outburst after his injury isn’t a huge surprise. He’s a loose cannon on a good day, and today was not one of those.
“He didn’t like my recommendation to Dr. Saleh about his injury and recovery.” When she speaks this time, she stands a little taller, finally getting some of her confidence back. “He’s going to be out for a week or two to let his elbow heal and will need a stint playing in the minors as part of his rehab.” She rolls her lips together like she’s bracing for my reaction.
“It sounds like he needs to focus on getting better, not berating the staff for doing their jobs. I’ll let the Doc know you stepped out.”
“Thanks again, Cruz.” She turns and heads down the hall to a set of offices the medical teams use. Once the door swings shut, I head back into the locker room where things have calmed down. Miller is nowhere to be found, and Dr. Saleh is cleaning up the mess left behind. He looks up when he hears me approaching.
“Finley went down to the offices. Everything okay?”
Shaking his head as he continues moving around the space. “Just dandy. Coach Becker came and got Miller out of here. Sent him home and told him to calm down. That kid’s gonna have a short career if he doesn’t get himself under control.”
“You’ll go check on Finley? She was pretty shaken up.”
“Yeah, I’ll go talk to her. When your brother gets called up, make sure the spotlight doesn’t go to his head.”
“That won’t be a problem, Doc.” Jarrett might enjoy his life to the fullest but never at the expense of others. Miller is selfish and entitled. If my brother ever acted the way he just did, I would have hauled him out of here myself. Not to mention he would never disappoint our mother like that.
Miller is wasting all his potential, and there are guys like Jarrett just waiting to get a chance on the roster. Doc isn’t wrong about the direction his career is heading. Everyone, players, staff, and the front office are tired of his antics on and off the field. I get the sense his days are numbered with this team and maybe the league.
Rett:
Good luck tonight.
Cruz:
You too. Kick some Hurricane ass.
A few more games like the one you had last week against San Diego and you are bound to be called up this season.
Rett:
Geez. Way to lay on the pressure.
Cruz:
Don’t even try that shit with me.
You’re a diamond, baby bro.
Pressure makes you shine.
