Curve fans show love for rehabbing Cervelli
ALTOONA, Pa. — For the first time in 78 days, Francisco Cervelli walked into a batter’s box to the sound of Dean Martin’s “That’s Amore.” Fans sang along, the whole bit. But Sunday night, Martin’s track echoed at PNG, not PNC, Park — home of the Pirates’ Class AA affiliate, the Altoona Curve.
Cervelli’s hope is that at some point in the near future, it’ll play again at PNC.
Cervelli’s road to returning to the Pirates is underway. The 33year- old catcher, who had his sixth recorded concussion May 25 and hasn’t played since, began a rehabilitation assignment by catching seven innings for the Curve against the Reading Phillies. Cervelli said he will report Monday to Class AAA affiliate Indianapolis. The Indians are off Monday, but play host starting Tuesday night against the Rochester Red Wings for a three- game set.
Sunday night with the Curve, Cervelli went 1 for 3 with a double to the left- field warning track. Behind the plate, he looked comfortable. More important, No. 29 felt comfortable back there after an 11week break from baseball.
“Like I just got called up to the big leagues, that’s how I felt. To be able to play again after almost 80 days of doing nothing, I feel very lucky,” Cervelli said with a smile. “I played today like it was the last game of my life. But it’s not.”
When asked if he hoped to return to the Pirates by Sept. 1 — when rosters expand — the he shrugged his shoulders.
“I hope in one week I can go there,” Cervelli added. “I don’t know. That’s what I want. But I’m not the boss.”
One of the bosses, manager Clint Hurdle, said Saturday that there were “no expectations” being placed on or burdening Cervelli, who struggled with a .193 batting average in 34 games for the Pirates this season.
Cervelli, who also logged a .279 on- base percentage in 109 at- bats, was blunt about why he was seeing the ball so poorly. “When you have a concussion, you cannot hit. It was impossible. Impossible,” he said. “I was hitting nothing there. I was getting hit all the time since spring training, and I didn’t take care of that the right way. I wasn’t able to coordinate or do things the right way.”
Cervelli was placed on the injured list May 26 after he took a Joc Pederson broken bat to the catching helmet a day earlier. He was moved to the 60- day injured list July 24.
But after 78 days essentially away from the game ( he caught bullpen sessions from Keone Kela last week) Cervelli “feels amazing.” He said he “did all the tests” related to concussions and came away with peace of mind. And he’s confident that catcher — not first base, not second or third — is what he’ll play for the rest of the season and beyond.
“I’m not a baseball player. I’m a catcher. Everything else is boring for me,” Cervelli said, grinning. “I don’t have any problems with my brain. I don’t have any little things there that can affect me later. ... I’m focused to play this year. Next year is a mystery always. I’m going to enjoy this year. And I’m going to let other teams know that I can catch.”
Cervelli is an unrestricted free agent after this season. The three- year, $ 31 million deal he signed in May 2016 will be up, and his future with the Pirates is unclear. In Cervelli’s absence, Jacob Stallings, 29, has hit .273 in 108 at- bats while Elias Diaz, 28, has posted a .251 average in 235 at- bats.
But whether or not he’ll be in Pittsburgh next year wasn’t on Cervelli’s mind Sunday night. At least, it wasn’t when speaking with a group of reporters in the Curve media room.
Cervelli couldn’t help but smile after a postgame workout. He said, “I feel like a winner.” Twice. The 12- year major league veteran was just happy to put the guards back on.
When he hears “That’s Amore” playing at PNC Park next, he doesn’t know. What Cervelli is sure of, though, is his physical and mental state — and that baseball is still very much in his future.
“Baseball has been almost my whole life. I don’t know anything else. My blood is still boiling. It’s hot. I want to be up there [ with the Pirates],” Cervelli said. “So today, catching was amazing. I’m not just going to enjoy it when I go back up to the big team. I’m going to enjoy every moment here in minors, too.”