By George Bremer, Herald Bulletin Sports Writer
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.”
