Osuna happy to return to mound
KANSAS CITY, MO.— On the mound, Roberto Osuna feels no distress, no anxiety, no angst. It’s his happy place.
Even, and perhaps especially so, amidst the mental disquiet he has been experiencing of late, which he publicly disclosed to reporters over the weekend.
“Every time I go out there, I have fun,” the 22-year-old closer explained following a non-save ninth inning appearance in Sunday’s 8-2 win over the Royals. “That’s what I like to do every day, is be on the mound and pitch. Every time I’m out there I don’t think about anything else. I always feel good when I’m on the mound.”
It was heartening to everybody, including his concerned teammates, to see Osuna take the hill after telling his manager he would not be available for duty this past Friday. Because his mind has apparently been roiling, sudden apprehension he claims came out of nowhere and which he’s been trying to resolve in sessions with the team’s psychologist.
“I felt better than yesterday and the day before. I’m just ready to work on that and get over it.”
Although John Gibbons would not expand on his stopper’s state of mind — “personal stuff,” he said, and nobody else’s business — he was pleased to get Osuna into a game, in part because the young Mexican needs the work to stay sharp. And this was a low-leverage situation which Osuna handled easily, giving up a single but otherwise striking out the side, swinging and looking. “I’m very happy to see him out there and be fine.”
Osuna is aware of all the warm wishes and support he’s received on social media.
“I didn’t read anything but I heard about it. I really appreciate the support of people. But I have other stuff to think about right now. I thank the fans for that but I’m trying to work on this by myself.”
While somewhat evasive, Gibbons indicated he’s taking his cue from the team’s medical staff and from Osuna. “If he said he couldn’t have pitched, he wouldn’t have pitched.”
“I have no arrangement with Gibby,” Osuna said. “It’s all about the doctors. They’re the ones that take the decision if I can pitch or not.’’
Jose Bautista on Osuna: “Hopefully he can continue to come out there when we need him. It’s encouraging to see him go out and pitch well.”
Francisco Liriano: “He’s been struggling with health issues and things seem to be better. I’m very happy to see him out there and be fine.”
Osuna on Osuna: “It’s slowly getting better. I’m getting better.”