SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. ¨C Here¡¯s another entry for the most unfortunate injuries in Brewers history, joining Steve Sparks and the phonebook, Matt Wise and the salad tongs, K-Rod and the cactus and other ailments.
Abner Uribe and the Hacky Sack.
Uribe, healthy again and throwing heat in Brewers camp after undergoing surgery at Triple-A Nashville last year to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, revealed the cause of his injury during a wide-ranging conversation about his comeback, his desire to reclaim closer duties someday and music's role in his rapidly improving English.
About that knee injury: Uribe said he was hurt not while pitching but while enjoying a common hobby among ballplayers, a fun way to get loose for the work day ahead. He was playing Hacky Sack with teammates.
¡°It¡¯s a terrible game I can¡¯t play anymore,¡± said Uribe, re-enacting for reporters the way he twisted his right knee. ¡°I felt a pop in my meniscus.¡±
¡°When I saw it happen, we thought he was joking around,¡± said fellow pitcher Carlos Rodriguez, who was part of the game that day. ¡°That¡¯s a tough, tough way to get hurt.¡±
The injury, which required season-ending surgery in June, continued Uribe¡¯s unfortunate slide in a season that began with such promise. With Brewers closer Devin Williams sidelined at the start of last year by a back injury, Uribe, armed with a 100 mph sinker and as much swagger as any pitcher in the organization, was the team¡¯s first choice to fill that role, and he converted saves in three of the team¡¯s first four games -- including Opening Day at the Mets and in the home opener against the Twins.
But Uribe¡¯s two most prominent areas of development -- command and controlling his emotions -- began to show. Over his next 11 outings, he blew both of his save chances, walked 11 batters versus 12 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings and earned a suspension and a demotion in short order following his role in a benches-clearing incident against the Rays in Milwaukee.
That suspension was eventually reduced to four games, which Uribe will have to serve whenever he is recalled to the Major Leagues. That didn¡¯t happen last season because of his knee injury.
¡°I cannot change what happened in the game because it already happened,¡± Uribe said. ¡°I cannot say I could control that moment, that it [won¡¯t] happen again. ¡ I play aggressively every time. I have my confidence in myself, and I don¡¯t like people coming around my [space].¡±
That confidence extends to Uribe¡¯s future role with the Brewers, who are likely to open the season with Trevor Megill in the closer¡¯s role after he logged 20 of his 21 saves during Williams¡¯ absence last season.
But down the line, Uribe sees himself back in that role. He¡¯s been working hard on command, knowing that if he aims middle-middle and lets his triple-digit sinker do its work, he can be successful against even the best big league hitters.
¡°No one knows what is going to happen at the end of the day,¡± Uribe said. ¡°Any decision they make, I¡¯m here to work. Of course that¡¯s my goal all the time, to close.¡±
He added, ¡°This year means a lot for me. I¡¯m ready to work, man. I put all of my heart into this process, to work hard and get my body to work the whole year. I¡¯m not going to lie, I¡¯m ready to go.¡±
He said all of this in English, a rapidly improving second language. Uribe spent last summer and all offseason improving his language skills, doing everything from working with a teacher to absorbing lessons on his own via music. Favorites include Lil Baby, SZA and Usher. Uribe often sought out slow songs so he could understand and learn the words -- Lukas Graham¡¯s ¡°7 Years¡± was great for that.
¡°I want to speak it perfectly because I like English,¡± Uribe said. ¡°I have to do everything in my position to make my English better.¡±
It¡¯s one of the ways in which he¡¯s beginning this season with renewed intent.
¡°[Last season] was a frustrating time because nobody knew what was going to happen,¡± Uribe said. ¡°Today we¡¯re here, but we don¡¯t know what¡¯s going to happen tomorrow. It was a really bad time for me, but I¡¯m here and I¡¯m trying to get better every day.¡±