After roller-coaster year, an emotional Neshek named -- deservedly -- to All-Star team
ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals reliever Pat Neshek had his hand on a door leading out of the clubhouse when the media converged Sunday afternoon.
I don't think it was because he was trying to avoid talking about being selected to the National League squad for this year's All-Star Game. Neshek is one of the most approachable and friendliest players on the team.
Rather, I think he was considering a quick exit becuase he knew he might choke up when talking about the honor. He did, too, on a couple of occasions.
Given the way the past several years have gone, you can understand why he'd be emotional then and when manager Mike Matheny gathered the Cardinals in the clubhouse before Sunday's game to tell them who had made the NL All-Star team.
Matheny started with the slam-dunk announcements that catcher Yadier Molina and ace Adam Wainwright were in, and followed with the mildly surprising choice of third baseman Matt Carpenter.
See more photos from inside the #STLCards clubhouse during the #ASG announcement. http://t.co/mqIOxFzyky pic.twitter.com/CaJDlgsztL
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 7, 2014
Matheny then told the players that Neshek was going and, the manager said, "the volume rose" throughout the clubhouse. Neshek said he wasn't even sure what all Matheny said because he got lost in the moment.
"When he said, 'And going back to his hometown ...,' that's when everything tuned out," said Neshek, who grew up in Minneapolis. "Wow, it's a reality. It was pretty to see that reaction from guys."
More than a little deserved, too. Neshek didn't even have a job as late as Feb. 1 and had to accept a minor-league deal to join the Cardinals. Signed initially as insurance for the bullpen, Neshek quickly emerged as a reliable reliever in spring training. He has continued to flourish, eventually taking over main setup responsibilities and putting up some of the best numbers among relievers in the majors.
Those numbers certainly are All-Star worthy: Three runs allowed in 35 innings (good for a 0.77 ERA), with 35 strikeouts, only four walks, a .134 batting average allowed and a 0.55 WHIP that leads major-league relievers.
Neshek came close to making the All-Star team in 2007 when he was with the Twins and made it to the "final five" vote. But the next year, his career went downhill because of an elbow injury and he missed most of 2008 and all of 2009, eventually undergoing Tommy John surgery. In the five seasons since, he has pitched for four teams.
Watch the Cardinals Live pregame and postgame shows before and after every St. Louis Cardinals game on FOX Sports Midwest.
"It's been tough," he said, and you could sense him choking up. "To know how close you were (in '07) and then go through the Tommy John. It's tough."
There is another, greater, side to the story that makes his selection so special. His wife, Stephanee, gave birth to a son, Hoyt Robert, during spring training and for a few days, there were complications. What made that even scarier was that the Nesheks had lost their first son, Gehrig John, less than 24 hours after he was born in October 2012. The death, the Nesheks have said, was one that should have been prevented.
Neshek, in fact, decided on the Cardinals in large part because of where they train. Throughout spring training, he made the 100-mile each-way commute from his home in Melbourne, Fla., to Jupiter while Stephanee was going through the final weeks of her pregnancy. When it was time to choose between the Cardinals and the Brewers -- who train in Arizona -- the proximity of the Cardinals' camp made the difference.
Now he's heading back home for the All-Star Game, where he won't be the only Neshek on the field. His brother, Paul, is on the Target Field grounds crew and will be working the game. "I'm sure I'll see a lot of him on the field and we'll get some pictures," the pitcher said.
There figure to be a lot of folks on his home turf hoping to meet and greet him.
LET'S GO CARDINALS: Check out these photos of fans and the excitement around Cardinals baseball.
"I love the Minnesota fans. Every time I've come back, they've given me an ovation," he said. "I have a special place for them."
Again you could sense him choking up, perhaps thinking about being introduced as an All-Star in his hometown after all his ups and downs, on and off the field.
And it was easy to get choked up, too.
You can follow Stan McNeal on Twitter at @StanMcNeal or email him at stanmcneal@gmail.com.
