‘Younger’ Shoemaker keen to renew key spot in rotation for Blue Jays
The birth certificate for Matt Shoemaker lists his age as 33.
The wear and tear on the right arm that matters most to the Blue Jays pitcher tells a more positive and youthful story, however.
That freshness combined with a stellar start in 2019 that was derailed by injury just five starts in are just two of the reasons Shoemaker is itching to get back to action here in Florida and ultimately up north with the Jays.
“Going through some unfortunate injuries the last several years, I feel like I’ve got like a 27-year-old arm,” Shoemaker said in an interview. “Honestly? I’ve not thrown so much the last several years so that makes my arm younger, which is a positive out of a negative thing happening. I feel really good. I literally feel like I’m way younger.”
Shoemaker was an early-season surprise for the Jays in 2019 going 3-0 through those five starts with a minuscule ERA of 1.57. It certainly seemed as if the former Los Angeles Angels starter was a solid winter pickup.
Then disaster once again felled the star-crossed pitcher. Participating in a rundown between first and second base at the Rogers Centre, Shoemaker moved awkwardly, tearing his ACL and tumbling to the turf in agony.
A long summer, fall and winter of rehab that followed combined with a truly powerfully upbeat attitude has the veteran back for more, however, as he eases into what the seven-year major league veteran hopes will be a renewal of that form he showed in his brief work stint with the Jays.
The shame of it ending as abruptly as it did from Shoemaker’s perspective was that he was off to one of the best starts of his career and was feeling it.
“If I recall, that was some of the best I’ve ever felt — physically and mentally, but especially physically,” Shoemaker said. “When as a pitcher you are on time and you’re physically strong and you’re executing your pitches … that’s great when you go out there and feel that physically good.”
Jays pitching coach Pete Walker has been impressed with the leadership and the work ethic Shoemaker has brought to the team, but also with the way he’s bounced back from the latest injury in a career that has had too many of them.
“Obviously he has a lot of pitches left in that arm and we’re excited about that,” Walker
said. “He’s a guy we’re going to count on. His stuff looks like it did last year when he pitched so well for us for five games. For him, it’s just a matter of getting into some games and getting that comfort level again of facing hitters.”
Shoemaker’s planned start in spring training games has been delayed slightly as a precautionary move to build strength in his knee. All signs point to there being no issue as to his readiness for opening day, however.
“I’m cleared and ready to go. It’s just that since we’ve got some extra time in spring training so why not take advantage of it,” said Shoemaker, who will focus on throwing live batting practice a couple of times before going into games.
“I could go out there and pitch in a game right now if I had to, but we’re just being extra smart. ”
As he worked away back to health last winter, Shoemaker was a keen observer of the work being done by Toronto general manager Ross Atkins and his front office staff.
“It was a real sense of excitement,” Shoemaker said. “Let alone knowing what we can do on the baseball side, there are just a bunch of great people here which is really cool. We’ve added a lot of pieces that will help us win.
“I think the culture here is very important. Culture is a thing. If your clubhouse culture is in good shape, you do better and you win. If it’s a bad culture, it’s not a good place to be. Everybody wants to win, but when you have a bunch of good dudes, you want to do it together.
“I definitely feel it and see it.”