"I feel great, probably the best I've felt mentally in three or four years with everything that I've been dealing with off the field," Schoeneweis told the paper. "It's a tough job to do by itself, but when you have stuff that was going on in my house for a number of years and now it's like … I would never say easy, but it's easier."
Gabrielle Dawn Schoeneweis, Scott's wife, was found dead in the couple’s home in Fountain Hills, Ariz., last May. An investigation later revealed the 39-year-old had died from an overdose of cocaine and lidocaine, an anesthetic.
The pitcher left his team at the time, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and reportedly struggled with depression following the loss of his wife, but he was able to return to the mound last September.
It hasn't been easy, but the now-36-year-old Schoeneweis and his four children have endured their loss and are ready to face any challenges that come their way.
"It's been really a tough time for me to play and now I feel like my kids and myself, everyone's in a really good position and this is what it's like to play without a lot of worry and anxiety going in," Schoeneweis told the paper.
Schoeneweis signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers in February, but was released by the team on March 23 after posting a 7.71 ERA in seven innings in spring training. The left-hander claims the Brewers never gave him the chance to earn a roster spot.
Schoeneweis did not remain unemployed for long, however, as the Red Sox signed the veteran to a minor league contract three days later. The former third-round draft pick boasts a 2.59 ERA in 15 career appearances at Fenway Park and feels comfortable pitching in Boston.
"If the season started tomorrow, I'd be fully confident even without throwing the last two or three days to hitters," Schoeneweis said. "I'd be fairly confident I could step on the mound in late innings against the Yankees — it wouldn't bother me a bit."
