Matt Wieters strolls to the batter’s box at Nationals Park to the walk-up song “Old Church Choir” by Zach Williams, with the line “there ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy.”
But this season has certainly been one to challenge the patience of Wieters, who has dealt with injuries and low offensive numbers.
The Nationals’ starting catcher was on the disabled list from April 2 to 11 with a mild left oblique strain. Then Wieters injured his hamstring May 10 while running to first base at Arizona. He had surgery the following week on the hamstring and returned to the active roster July 9.
“I feel for everybody that went on the (disabled list). It stinks,” Wieters, 32, said. “Your whole life you have been playing. When it is taken away from you, you sit back and you realize how much you miss it. I don’t take any day for granted now.”
After the hamstring injury, some feared he could miss the rest of the season, or a big chunk of it.
“We had different timetables, from six week to three to four months (of recovery). We knew that we had a chance to make it back when we did,” he said. “I think we were on pace to probably come back a little earlier (than July 9). We slowed it down to make sure everything was right. The training staff did a great job.”
At the plate, Wieters struggled upon his return to the active roster.
His average fell below .200 last week, but he hit .280 in a seven-game stretch through Sunday to lift his average to .216 in 139 at-bats this season with four homers, 12 RBI and an OPS of .643.
Wieters was 3-for-3 with two walks as he reached base all five times on Saturday in a 9-4 win over the Cubs.
“For a catcher, more than anything it means they trust you with the pitching staff,” Wieters said. “I will always feel I am the best person for that job in the right situation. I felt like I have not played up to my potential throughout really my whole career.”
Wieters was a first-round draft pick out of Georgia Tech by Baltimore in 2007. He made his big league debut with the Orioles to much fanfare two years later after he hit .345 with Single-A Frederick and .365 with Double-A Bowie in 2008.
After eight seasons with the Orioles, he signed a two-year contract with the Nationals prior to the 2017 season. He was an American League All-Star four times and won the Gold Glove twice.
“It has been great,” Wieters said of his two seasons in Washington. “We have a great clubhouse. We have a clubhouse who is built to win now. Personally I think there are a lot things I can do better since I’ve been here. But I keep working.”
The Nationals, who began a four-game series against St. Louis on Monday night, trail both the upstart Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves in the National League East.
One pitcher who was glad to see Wieters return was Gio Gonzalez, who had problems at times with catcher Pedro Severino while Wieters was on the disabled list.
Wieters was back behind the plate Thursday when Gonzalez (7-8, 3.89) won his first game since May 28.
“I can’t stress enough how Wieters did behind the plate,” said Gonzalez, slated to start Tuesday in St. Louis. “I think I have the best command when I don’t have to think. Credit the big guy behind the plate. He made it less stressful.”
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