Perseverance lands pitcher in the big leagues
Jim Henderson chuckled when asked to describe his year.
“Just kind of living the dream,” he said. “Worked hard all my life to get to the big leagues and this is the year that I really had a chance to sink my teeth into it and try to make a name for myself. I had an opportunity to be a big-leaguer for an entire season, so everything I dreamed of as a kid kind of came together.”
Indeed, 2013 saw the 31-year-old pitcher get his cup of coffee and more as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers, collecting 28 saves in 61 appearances, posting a 2.70 ERA and striking out 75.
“I wanted to, as most closers do, build that reputation that when it comes to the end of the game, the other team knows the game is over,” he explained. “If you have that reputation, coming into the ninth inning, the other team knows it’s going to be tough to come back.”
Upon graduation from Central Memorial High School, the Calgary-born Henderson attended Tennessee Wesleyan College. That institution will induct the right-hander into the TWC Hall of Fame on Jan. 17.
Perseverance is indeed his middle name.
“You think of the naysayers and doubters in your life and I had to battle a lot during my years in the minor leagues, switching organizations and coming back from injury,” he said. “I’d like to hang that on my name plate and come out there and show on the mound, too, that I have a chip on my shoulder and prove that even though it took me a long time to get there, I’m here to stay and I can play at this level.”
He’s moved to Arizona this winter where he can work out at the Brewers’ facility in Phoenix. He typically spends most off-seasons in Calgary, helping with the Okotoks Dawgs’ youth programs, of which he is an alumnus.
“I love coming back and I’ll continue to go back and forth. That’ll always be home,” he insisted. “I have a small window; I made the big leagues late in my career and I just want to make the most of my opportunity in the next few years.”