Blackstock's journey
The last time Washington's newest player, Josh Blackstock, was at Consol Energy Park, he left in a teammate's Cadillac, not the team bus. It wasn't a nice ride. Blackstock, playing for Chillicothe last season, was doubled over in pain and on the way to the hospital. He would arrive at Washington Hospital and eventually have his appendix removed.
"It was inflamed and I tried to get them to let me go back," Blackstock said. "But they wouldn't let me."
Instead, Blackstock had the surgery and was back on the field 10 days later.
"It was a setback," he said.
But Blackstock knows a lot about setbacks. He's had his share over his 25 years. The small scar he had from his appendectomy was nothing compared to the ugly remnants of an operation seven years earlier to repair his liver, spleen and gall bladder.
In his senior season at Rockdale County High School in Conyers, Ga., just outside Atlanta, Blackstock was involved in an automobile accident that nearly killed him. The impact of the collision lacerated his liver and spleen and damaged his gall bladder. He was bleeding internally. Blackstock was rushed to the hospital, just 30 minutes from bleeding to death.
"At the time, I was hitting the ball well and Alabama was thinking about offering me a scholarship," Blackstock said. "Then, that happened."
Blackstock was in the hospital for 11 days and three weeks later, he was back playing. But it took more time for him to get back into shape. Instead of Alabama, Blackstock attended Brewton-Parker College, located in Southeast Georgia, then jumped to the Tarrant County Thunder of the Continental Baseball League two years ago.
He joined Mark Mason's team in Chillicothe last season and led the Frontier League in walks with 69. He hit .251 in 75 games and drove in 33 runs.
This year, he bounced from team to team in the Frontier League, the final stop at Rockford two weeks ago. Mason called him when he needed to fill a roster spot.
"He can hit," Mason said. "He's very patient at the plate. His on-base percentage is over .400. He's like a left-handed Michael Parker."
Blackstock is happy for the chance to continue playing.
"Mark is a great guy," Blackstock said. "When I got released from Lake Erie, he tried to contact me. I'm excited to get this call."
- By Joe Tuscano
"It was inflamed and I tried to get them to let me go back," Blackstock said. "But they wouldn't let me."
Instead, Blackstock had the surgery and was back on the field 10 days later.
"It was a setback," he said.
But Blackstock knows a lot about setbacks. He's had his share over his 25 years. The small scar he had from his appendectomy was nothing compared to the ugly remnants of an operation seven years earlier to repair his liver, spleen and gall bladder.
In his senior season at Rockdale County High School in Conyers, Ga., just outside Atlanta, Blackstock was involved in an automobile accident that nearly killed him. The impact of the collision lacerated his liver and spleen and damaged his gall bladder. He was bleeding internally. Blackstock was rushed to the hospital, just 30 minutes from bleeding to death.
"At the time, I was hitting the ball well and Alabama was thinking about offering me a scholarship," Blackstock said. "Then, that happened."
Blackstock was in the hospital for 11 days and three weeks later, he was back playing. But it took more time for him to get back into shape. Instead of Alabama, Blackstock attended Brewton-Parker College, located in Southeast Georgia, then jumped to the Tarrant County Thunder of the Continental Baseball League two years ago.
He joined Mark Mason's team in Chillicothe last season and led the Frontier League in walks with 69. He hit .251 in 75 games and drove in 33 runs.
This year, he bounced from team to team in the Frontier League, the final stop at Rockford two weeks ago. Mason called him when he needed to fill a roster spot.
"He can hit," Mason said. "He's very patient at the plate. His on-base percentage is over .400. He's like a left-handed Michael Parker."
Blackstock is happy for the chance to continue playing.
"Mark is a great guy," Blackstock said. "When I got released from Lake Erie, he tried to contact me. I'm excited to get this call."
- By Joe Tuscano
Labels: Josh Blackstock
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