Despite Getting Dirty, Grass Still looks Green for Greenberg

By Justin Felisko on May 21, 2009

Bridgeport, CT – The five-foot nine-inch center fielder stares down the batter’s box in the top of the seventh inning.  His hands placed confidently on his knees, he anticipates the crack of the bat as the ball begins to sail towards shallow center field.  With galloping speed, he takes off in a sprint towards the frozen rope.  In a matter of seconds, Adam Greenberg is diving head first to rob Newark Bears outfielder Kevin Thompson of a base hit in last Friday’s game at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard.

It was the first of three fantastic grabs in the outfield for the 28-year-old.  Now almost four years later, Greenberg is still anticipating a return to the big leagues after his ten minutes of fame on July 9, 2005.

The Bridgeport Bluefish starting center fielder’s head sinks down and a slight smile appears when asked about this infamous day in his baseball career.  He knew the question would eventually come up.

It was a “dream come true” for Greenberg when he got the call to make his first major league at-bat as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning against the Florida Marlins.  Batting against lefty Valerio de Los Santos, Greenberg would get hit just underneath his right ear by a 92 m.p.h. fastball that sent him instantly to the ground and away from the Major Leagues ever since.

“I felt everything from the pain of being hit to the fear of being scared for my life,” said Greenberg.

Greenberg continues to work hard, pushing himself every day through one pitch, one at-bat, and one moment at a time.  It hasn’t been easy for the ballplayer, and it certainly has been frustrating.  Originally diagnosed with post concussion syndrome, the 1998-1999 Connecticut Male Athlete of the Year would eventually be diagnosed with positional vertigo.  Positional vertigo is normally an inner ear problem that can cause severe feelings of uncontrollable spinning.

After struggling in 2006 at West Tenn (AA, Cubs) and Jacksonville (AA, Dodgers), Greenberg received the help of Dr. Barry Seiller, a vision trainer in Chicago through a company called Vizual Edge.  Greenberg took some tests that revealed that his depth perception and vision was off.  It took him until the second half of the 2007 season for Greenberg to finally feel close to 100 percent.

Last year, Greenberg was released by the Kansas City Royals on the last day of spring training.  A short stint of 13 games with Bridgeport landed him with the Arkansas Travelers (AA, Angels).  In Arkansas, the long-traveled Greenberg regained his stroke and was having his best season of professional ball.  In 70 games, he finished with 16 stolen bases and a .271 batting average.  Both exceeded his numbers from 2005 when he played in 95 games for West Tenn (AA, Cubs).

“I was playing as good of ball as I ever had to the point where they even told me I was competing for a big league job,” said Greenberg.  “I was like ‘ok, this is great.’  I was playing great defense, stealing all the time, hitting the ball on the ground, running and putting the ball in play consistently.”

Though, once again the third-team College All-American from the University of North Carolina hit a stumbling block in his bid at another Major League opportunity.  The hustling Greenberg ruptured his cyst in his right knee running out a triple on a line drive to left field for the Travelers.

Trying to grasp that opportunity to finally get back up top, he rushed backed.  He struggled in his return and eventually pulled his hamstring, all but ending his season.

“As has happened often, it’s been a huge rollercoaster of situations and emotions,” said Greenberg’s father, Mark.  “He tries to put as much of a positive spin on it as he can, but to say it hasn’t been incredibly difficult and frustrating would be lying.”

Now back in Bridgeport, Greenberg once again is anticipating another opportunity to play affiliated ball.  Despite struggling at the plate, Greenberg continues to work towards his dream.

Hitting coach Willie Upshaw has been working with Greenberg on his balance and the direction of his swing.  Upshaw sees the outfielder’s determination on a daily basis.

“Oh, he will work,” said Upshaw.  “He isn’t afraid to work.  He goes out there during batting practice and the game and takes it all in.  That’s all you can ask for.”

Last Sunday, Greenberg had a tough day at the plate, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.  The frustration was evident as Greenberg tossed his helmet in disgust against the dugout wall. Instead of leaving his batting helmet on the ground at the end of the game, he picked it back up and went to work.

For another hour and a half, Greenberg tried to regain his swing by practicing in the batting cage.  “That’s the only way to get out of it; to work at it,” said his father.  “He was there until almost eight at night working with Brandon Sing.  He’ll do whatever he needs to do and he certainly is committed to getting back to where he has been.”

Throughout his “rollercoaster” career, Greenberg has developed a strong sense of perseverance.  He has learned to stop worrying about who’s watching or what may have been.  Instead, he is focused on what he can do, and what he will do.

“I can really benefit a team and help them in a variety of different ways.  I’m confident in that.  I’ll get my chance again and I’m ready for it.”

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