ALEXANDRIA — J.D. Closser has nothing left to prove.
The 5-foot-10, 200-pounder long ago silenced critics who labeled him too small to be a major league catcher. His 1998 Mr. Baseball award and Class 2A state championship at Alexandria speak to his talent and leadership.
He played 160 games over parts of three seasons with the Colorado Rockies and hit .239 with 10 homers and 48 RBIs.
Closser reached the mountaintop once, and yet he continues to chase the dream.
His father, Jeff, the varsity baseball coach at Alexandria, marvels at his son’s determination.
“Not a whole lot of people from Alexandria, Ind., can say they played in the big leagues for 2 1/2 years,” Jeff Closser said. “I couldn’t be more proud of him. If he quits today, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference.”
But J.D. Closser still seems a long way from quitting.
This spring, he’s toiling with the Los Angeles Dodgers in Glendale, Ariz. Closser, drafted in the fifth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1998, hasn’t played in the majors since 2006. Since then he’s spent time in the minors with the Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees and San Diego Padres.
Last year he went through something of an offensive renaissance, hitting .295 with two homers and 31 RBIs in 69 games with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes after starting the season in Double A.
The Dodgers saw enough to extend a non-roster invitation again this spring.
“He learned to relax,” Jeff Closser said of J.D.’s resurgence. “He’s more mature. He understands what he can do and what he can’t do. He plays within himself.”
The Dodgers got bad news Sunday when they learned All-Star catcher Russell Martin could miss four to six weeks with a groin injury. Closser has yet to make an official spring training at-bat, but Martin’s absence could change that.
Though, the depth at the position means it’s still unlikely Closser will open the season in the majors.
“I don’t know because they’ve got (Brad) Ausmus,” Jeff Closser said. “They’ve also got (A.J.) Ellis. I think (J.D. will) have a better chance (of seeing more playing time). But it’s not guaranteed.”
Ellis is a top prospect and likely will get the majority of Martin’s reps. Ausmus will serve as his top backup. Youngster Lucas May also is on the 40-man roster, and Gabriel Gutierrez and Justin Knoedler join Closser as non-roster invitees.
“If there’s a silver lining to (the Martin injury), it’s a month before we open,” Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti told the team’s Web site. “So four of the six weeks will be spent during spring training.”
Colletti went on to say Martin’s injury will give Ellis a good chance to catch the coaching staff’s eyes. But all the catchers in camp figure to see more work.
Closser doesn’t seem to be too concerned with where he ends up playing this year. He was hoping to return to the Dodgers’ organization and has a great respect for their coaches.
“He knows if he goes back to Triple A he’s only an injury away from going back to the big leagues,” Jeff Closser said.
That remains the ultimate goal.
Anderson legend Carl Erskine, who played 12 seasons with the Dodgers, has often said as hard as it is to get to the majors, it’s even harder to stay there.
“You’re more in the spotlight once you get there,” Jeff Closser said. “If you don’t perform, somebody else steps in. And then you’re fighting to get back to where you were.”
Local Sports
Related Photos
-
Mark Duncan
-
Mark Duncan
-
Mark Duncan
Related Links
Discussion
Closser still chasing a dream
Alex grad, '98 Mr. Baseball J.D. Closser trying to catch on with Dodgers
- Local Sports
-
-
Bearcats upend AHS
Often basketball is a simple game, and it was certainly true for the Anderson boys basketball team here Thursday night. “We had too many turnovers — that’s the game,” said AHS coach Joe Nadaline after the Indians lost to Muncie Central 54-46 for their eighth straight defeat.
-
Bulldogs topple Raiders, win 9th in a row
The Bulldogs keep on rolling. Lapel (16-3) led from start to finish as it beat visiting Shenandoah 69-47 Thursday night to push its winning streak to nine games.
-
PHHS shoots down Fishers
It can be easy to take Kellen Dunham for granted. But the Pendleton Heights senior reminded everyone why he is a Mr. Basketball candidate with a furious fourth quarter Thursday night against Fishers. Dunham scored 15 of his game-high 32 points in the final eight minutes, connected on all 10 of his free-throw attempts during the period and drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key early in the frame that sent the fifth-ranked Arabians on their way to a 53-42 victory.
-
Frankton subdues Liberty
Youth was on display Thursday night in Frankton as the host Eagles squared off against the Liberty Christian Lions boys basketball team. Neither team had a senior start the game, and Frankton proved to be the more seasoned team in a 68-59 win.
-
Indians fall to Bearcats 54-46
Photos from Anderson as the Indians hosted the Muncie Central Bearcats.
-
Five for fighting
Like other coaches, Alexandria wrestling coach Jack Grimaldi sometimes has to worry about how to motivate his charges as they head into their matches. That shouldn’t be an issue for him with his five Tigers heading into Saturday’s individual semistate at New Castle.
-
Red-hot Lapel limiting miscues
Like any basketball coach, Jimmie Howell knows how important it is for a team to be playing its best basketball as the state tournament draws near.
But what’s going on in Lapel might be redefining that theory.
With a 60-42 win on the road over Class 3A No. 6 Guerin Catholic on Saturday, the Bulldogs pushed their winning streak to eight games. Over the 32-minute course of the game against the Golden Eagles, Lapel committed a microscopic four turnovers. -
PH moves on
On the roster of every successful team is a player or two who will do the unpleasant work. The ones who actually find satisfaction in this pursuit are worth their weight in wins to any coach. Pendleton Heights sophomore Kiawna Cottrell was just that player Tuesday as the Arabians advanced to the second round of sectional play with a 55-45 victory over Greenfield-Central.
-
Indians slay Spartans
The last time these two girls basketball teams met on Jan. 17, Anderson defeated Connersville 83-74 in overtime. Lady Tribe coach Chad Cook knew the Spartans would come out with a chip on their shoulder ready for revenge in Tuesday’s opening round of the Class 4A sectional.
-
Eagles eke by Raiders
Back in November, the Frankton girls basketball team handled Shenandoah by 29 points. Tuesday’s sectional opener at Shenandoah wasn’t as easy, but the end result was the same as Frankton moved on with a 44-43 win over the host Shenandoah Raiders.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
