Hentgen back in the game with Jays
Will help with player development
DUNEDIN • Pat Hentgen, one of three Blue Jay Cy Young winners, is back in uniform this spring and will wear that uniform for at least some of the time in his role as a consultant to the club this summer.
In the past, Hentgen has been the big- league club’s bullpen coach and since then, his role with the club has taken a variety of directions. A couple of years ago, then- GM Alex Anthopoulos liked to have Hentgen go along on amateur scouting trips, valuing his opinion.
When he wasn’t scouting, he was also keeping an eye on the big league club from the executive box. Now with a regime change, Hentgen’s role is going to be a little more hands on, largely on the player development side.
“When Mark ( Shapiro) and Ross (Atkins) took over, I got a call and my role will change this season,” said Hentgen. “I’m going to do three weeks in spring training. I’ ll be in Toronto for every other homestand and I’m going to see Lansing, Dunedin, New Hampshire and Buffalo once during the season. Then, right after the draft, I’m going to fly down to Florida for the mini-camp that happens after the draft.
“It’s more player development, definitely,” he said. “I’ ll be in uniform. I’ ll be in uniform when I go visit the affiliates and I’ ll be in uniform when I’m in Toronto, too. Once the games start I’ll be in the clubhouse in Toronto.”
Hentgen is a skilled communicator whose career spanned 14 seasons. He is looking forward to his chance to unlock the secrets of pro ball for young players still trying to find themselves.
“It’s neat,” he said. “A lot of times these kids in the lower levels are worried about their mechanics and you try to explain to them that Marcus Stroman is not worried about his mechanics. He’s worried about competing and getting people out. That’s the big message you try to preach is that everybody in pro ball is pretty good. But when you get to the higher levels it’s all mental.”
Hentgen isn’t shy about how much he enjoys the game, even 10 years into socalled retirement.
“I miss it,” he said. “Even when I wasn’t in Toronto, I would tell all my buddies ‘ Don’t call me from 7 till 10, would ya?’ If you want to know where I’m at, I’m in my basement watching the game. I enjoy watching the game. I’m a junkie and baseball has been a big part of my life. I hope it continues to be.”