‘Unbelievable’ Osuna bringing the heat

ALL-STAR APPEARANCE: Despite his youth, Toronto Blue Jays closer has been a model of consistency in ninth inning

MIAMI — From his regular crouch at first base, Justin Smoak of the Toronto Blue Jays has a clear view of his teammate Roberto Osuna when he gets down to the business of shutting down a baseball game.

And like so many in the American League, Smoak is at times blown away by the Jays’ 22-year-old closer, a late addition to the AL roster for Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic.

Along with an entourage of family and friends, the native of Juan Jose Rios, Mexico, brought with him to south Florida a 21-game save streak that is the longest active run in the major leagues.

“He can throw everything for strikes,” Smoak said. “And it’s not easy to do that with four pitches. He’s got a nasty slider that’s 88 to 90 (mph) and it goes straight down. He can throw it for a strike when he wants to go with a 97(-mph) heater and the pitch that he doesn’t throw a lot that I think is one of his best pitches is the change-up.

“He’s been like that for us for two years. He’s our guy. The kid is unbelievable. He’s one of the best pitchers I’ve ever seen at that age.”

That he’s made it to his first AllStar Game has been a special accomplishment for Osuna and not just because he will surpass Dave Stieb (1980) as the youngest Jay to play in the event if he makes an appearance.

This season has had its share of struggles for the young righthander, dating back to spring training where he tried to play through neck pain and struggled as a result. Then came an incident last month in Kansas City when Osuna couldn’t pitch in a game because of anxiety issues.

As he checked out his all-star surroundings for the first time Monday, Osuna said those mental struggles are behind him now thanks to Jays catcher Russell Martin and former Jays reliever Jason Grilli, now with the Texas Rangers.

The veteran Grilli, in particular, took the time to counsel Osuna about life and baseball, something the 40-year-old pitcher still does with almost daily communication from Chicago.

“Both (Grilli and Martin) told me they went through the same thing when they were younger and that helped me a lot,” Osuna said. “Grilli was spending days and nights with me. He became to me like my second dad, I would say.

“Not only in (dealing with anxiety). He was telling me a lot of things about baseball on the field and off the field about life. He’s been through a lot of things.

“I learned a lot from him and obviously I’m missing him a lot. I talk to him every day and he’s become a big part of my life.”

As for his shutdown success, Osuna has become the reliable force that he’s been the past couple of seasons. At just 22 years and 134 days, he became the youngest player in MLB history to record 75 career saves.

The success at such a young age is extraordinary, but Smoak points to his experience as a 16- and 17-yearold playing pro ball in his native Mexico.

“Playing in Mexico as a young kid in that league kind of prepared him for the big leagues and the situation he was going to be in,” Smoak said.

Osuna’s teammate is not his only admirer either. Sensational New York Yankees rookie Aaron Judge has faced Osuna four times and struck out on each occasion.

“I can attest for why he’s an allstar,” Judge said Monday as he prepared to let loose in the annual home-run derby. “He’s got the stuff. He’s got the makeup. He’s a competitor.

“He goes out there and competes. He’s gonna give you what he’s got and lay it on the line. It doesn’t matter if there’s nobody on or the bases are loaded in the bottom of the ninth, he’s going to go out there and compete and give it his best.”