NewsObstacles didn't stop Cantu in 2009
First baseman battled injury, dizziness to be productive
By David Villavicencio / MLB.com
09/24/09 11:48 AM ET
MIAMI -- Players often go through tough times during a long baseball season, but Jorge Cantu has overcome several obstacles this year to be one of the Marlins' most productive hitters.The 27-year-old got off to a hot start, batting .365 with seven home runs in the first month of the season, but then his power was stripped from him when he was hit by a pitch in the left hand at the end of April. Cantu struggled, but bounced back after making some adjustments at the plate.
"I had to make adjustments and try to be more selective," Cantu said of hitting after his hand injury. "I tried not to swing at any pitch like I used to in years past. I'm not like that anymore. I have more walks this year than in any season I've been in the Major Leagues, and that's just part of the concentration needed to be a more consistent run producer."
While Cantu has been able to concentrate for most of the year, he struggled to focus in June after a bad reaction to medicine forced him to battle dizziness and nausea for over a month. The six-year veteran was able overcome that difficult time, thanks to a solid support group.
"You're just spaced out," Cantu said of what the medicine did to him. "It got me all loopy and dizzy, and I couldn't concentrate. I couldn't do what I wanted to do at 100 percent and I always had it on my mind. It lingered for a month and a half, and that's a long time to have a sickness like that, but I always had my supporters here. My guys here were always picking me up. The trainers and doctors were always doing their best, and my parents and friends back home were always cheering me up. That's the stuff you need to keep surviving up here."
The cleanup hitter is coming off a 4-for-5 performance with two key RBIs against the Phillies in Wednesday's walk-off win and enters this weekend's series against the Mets batting .283 with 16 home runs and 91 RBIs. Even with good numbers on a playoff contender, Cantu's performance this season has gone overlooked by most casual observers -- but manager Fredi Gonzalez has noticed how important Cantu has been to the Marlins.
"I've been impressed by him the last two years," Gonzalez said. "If you look at the numbers he has been able to put up in home runs, RBI and batting average while hitting fourth for us, he's come a long way from two years ago, when it seemed like nobody wanted him. We picked him up and he has been very, very productive."
Cantu is proud of overcoming his obstacles to be a consistent run producer for the Marlins. Even in the most difficult times, Cantu believes he was able to find success with constant hard work and a positive attitude.
"You've just got to keep your chin up and keep working hard at what you do," Cantu said. "We're here for a reason, and that's to perform and help get the team to the playoffs. I've had to grind it out. My power production is a little down from last year. I don't want to make any excuses about my health or anything like that. I have to perform and that's the bottom line. It's stuff baseball players go through. You're going to have your obstacles and you can't help it. You just have to be more motivated to go out there and perform every day."
David Villavicencio is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
