Grimm is master of his domain
Catching first pitch has become reliever’s duty
MESA, Ariz. — Brett Eldredge has four No. 1 country-music singles. He has a gold album. He has won country-music awards for best new artist and best song.
And somewhere among all those awards and accolades, on a shelf in his home, rests a baseball signed by Cubs reliever Justin Grimm. Grimm likes to think so, at least. ‘‘He just told me the other day he’s still got the ball sitting up on his shelf,’’ the charismatic Grimm said. ‘‘So, yeah, job well done.’’
When he says ‘‘job,’’ he means it. Baseballs autographed by Grimm are thought to be in the possession of celebrities on at least two continents — from Las Vegas to Manchester, England.
It’s all part of Grimm’s fascination with being the Cubs’ all-but-official catcher of ceremonial first pitches at home games, a job he has claimed as his and his only — never mind that it’s a job other players typically want no part of.
‘‘I can’t mess up a first pitch; that’s my goal,’’ said Grimm, who started doing it regularly as a favor to Cubs marketing man Jim Oboikowitch, who’s responsible for cajoling a player into doing it before each game. Then Grimm started to enjoy it. ‘‘You’re meeting a lot of cool people,’’ said Grimm, who has caught — and signed balls for — Eldredge and other luminaries such as Wayne Newton (‘‘the ambassador of Las Vegas himself ’’), ‘‘Criminal Minds’’ star Joe Mantegna and legendary Manchester United midfielder Bryan Robson.
‘‘And it’s not just about the stars,’’ Grimm said. ‘‘You’re meeting war veterans and all sorts of people. I caught a lady who was 100 years old last year, and she was able to let the ball go. I mean, that’s just awesome. It’s small things like that that make it pretty cool.’’
It’s that kind of off-beat perspective that makes Grimm a unique personality in the Cubs’ clubhouse. It probably doesn’t hurt when it comes to dealing with the heat of the brush-fire moments manager Joe Maddon seems to reserve for him during games, either.
‘‘Yeah, Grimm, he’s one of a kind,’’ fellow reliever Neil Ramirez said. ‘‘I’ve been around him for five or six years now, since we played with each other in the Rangers’ organization. And he’s just a free spirit. Just a clown, man. Just a goof. But a great kid, great heart.’’
And great stuff. Maddon calls Grimm his ‘‘middle-inning closer.’’ He sent the right-hander into games with men on base 30 times last season.
Grimm, who missed the first month of last season because of forearm inflammation, had a 1.99 ERA in 62 appearances. He strand- ed 31 of the 42 runners he inherited, something Ramirez credited to Grimm’s nature and personality.
‘‘Grimm has a great ability to just not think too much and just go right at guys,’’ Ramirez said. ‘‘And he’s got awesome stuff. He’s got closer-type stuff with that fastball and curveball he has.’’
Grimm, whose role might make him the most overlooked member of the Cubs’ bullpen, said Maddon’s confidence in putting him in those hot spots is a big part of his success.
‘‘That, and I have no choice but to attack the hitter,’’ he said.
Someday, that might lead to being the guy who throws the final pitch in a game, Maddon said.
These days, first pitch keeps Grimm occupied enough that he has built a pregame routine around it. He is ready in the dugout before anybody else and gets the adrenaline going as part of the pregame show in front of 40,000 fans.
‘‘I’m not sure I want to be known for being the first-pitch catcher,’’ he said, his voice starting to trail off, ‘‘but you know what . . . ’’
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