FORT MYERS, Fla. — Bobby Jenks is often a little behind other pitchers at this stage of spring training. It is by design, a methodical form of preparation that he has utilized for a few years now.
That made Jenks’ throwing session to hitters on Saturday his first of the spring, whereas most others have done so twice. Previously, he had thrown four side sessions at the player development complex. After two days of rest, he expects to throw one more session to hitters. Three days after that he could be in a game for the first time.
“I’d rather ease into it right now,” Jenks said. “I usually don’t like getting into a game until I’m confident in my fastball. Right now I feel great but the command isn’t quite there yet. A few more times off the mound should take care of that in a week or so.”
Although it’s particularly early in the process for Jenks, he still showed some of the bite that has made him so successful in recent years.
After Brent Dlugach, one of two hitters standing in against Jenks, ripped the first offering from the hard-throwing righty, Jenks delivered his next pitch into Dlugach’s back side.
Although both Jenks and pitching coach Curt Young said it was just early cobwebs and the pitch got away from him, the timing was rather apt. For his part, Jenks was pleased to have a chance to mix it up inside, and was not very apologetic.
“I’m not there for [the hitters], they’re there for us,” he said. “If somebody gets in the way while I’m trying to work inside it’s part of it. If I’m going to go in, it’s my first time seeing hitters this year. One’s going to get away. I’m glad it was down. I didn’t miss up.”
To the credit of Dlugach, he lined a shot into left field his next time in cage.
Young said Jenks is in great shape to be game ready soon.
“It looks like his arm is moving good, he’s feeling healthy and his stuff will come as we continue to do this,” Young said.
Jenks said he likes to make about eight or 10 appearances during spring training, including an outing or two at the player development complex. His new role as a setup man has not altered his offseason approach, and he added that he feels “better than expected” after a season in which he had some physical issues.
The slow progression through spring training is helping him more and more every year.
“I was getting tired during spring because I was throwing off the mound so much and I would go through that dead arm feeling,” he said of previous spring trainings. “So working into it I felt too ready for spring.”
He’s right on schedule this time around. Just ask Dlugach.
