Baseball Guru
03-23-2002, 06:09 AM
By The Associated Press
March 23, 2002, 12:46 AM EST
Jose Rijo is back in the big leagues.
The Cincinnati Reds gave Rijo a one-year deal Friday, adding him to the 40-man roster and ending the suspense over whether he could extend his remarkable career into another season.
Rijo, 36, was sitting on the bench in the third inning of an 8-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates when manager Bob Boone called him over for the moment that Rijo had both anticipated and dreaded.
If the Reds didn't want him to continue his comeback from five elbow operations and a six-year layoff, he would go back to the Dominican Republic and run his baseball academy.
He was prepared to go home, but desperately wanted to stay.
"He called me over, and I was the most nervous I've been in my whole career," Rijo said. "Not when I faced my first major league hitter was I as nervous as I was today."
Boone extended a hand.
"I just said, `Congratulations, you're on the club,'" Boone said.
With that handshake, Rijo officially joined the bullpen.
"I was numb," he said. "It was awesome. It's a wonderful feeling -- not just making the Reds team but the best bullpen in the league."
Rijo will get a $500,000 base salary. He can make up to $250,000 in performance bonuses that begin with his 35th appearance.
March 23, 2002, 12:46 AM EST
Jose Rijo is back in the big leagues.
The Cincinnati Reds gave Rijo a one-year deal Friday, adding him to the 40-man roster and ending the suspense over whether he could extend his remarkable career into another season.
Rijo, 36, was sitting on the bench in the third inning of an 8-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates when manager Bob Boone called him over for the moment that Rijo had both anticipated and dreaded.
If the Reds didn't want him to continue his comeback from five elbow operations and a six-year layoff, he would go back to the Dominican Republic and run his baseball academy.
He was prepared to go home, but desperately wanted to stay.
"He called me over, and I was the most nervous I've been in my whole career," Rijo said. "Not when I faced my first major league hitter was I as nervous as I was today."
Boone extended a hand.
"I just said, `Congratulations, you're on the club,'" Boone said.
With that handshake, Rijo officially joined the bullpen.
"I was numb," he said. "It was awesome. It's a wonderful feeling -- not just making the Reds team but the best bullpen in the league."
Rijo will get a $500,000 base salary. He can make up to $250,000 in performance bonuses that begin with his 35th appearance.