Jonny Venters has celebrated his comeback in the MLB after a five-year injury break. After pitching for the Braves in the playoffs in 2012, Venters returned to Mound on Wednesday after his Tampa Bay Rays (9-13) defeated Baltimore Orioles (6-18) 8-4.
“I’m really happy to have been back out there and didn’t have to take too much,” said Venters. The relief threw a total of only four pitches, but his last one led to a groundout by Orioles-First baseman Chris Davis.
The 33-year-old has undergone two Tommy John operations and two other operations on his right throwing arm in the last four years. In his time in the Minor Leagues, Venters had to go under the knife twice, and no other player ever made a return to MLB after three or more operations.
Venters threw his fast ball at 91 miles per hour, while his breaking balls were measured at 83 to 85 miles per hour. “It was an incredible experience to get back into a big game and help his team,” Venters told the Tampa Bay Times.
The Rays informed Venters soon enough that he would be promoted out of the Triple A-League by the Durham Bulls to give his family enough time to travel to the stadium on his comeback. “I will never forget the moment, a dream came true,” said Venters.
This article was published without previous view by the Major League Baseball.