Passionate outfielder returns after huge winter in Dominican
By John Schlegel
MLB.com
As Eric Byrnes found himself basking in the postseason glow last October, the A's outfielder took every opportunity to soak in the experience as best he could.
Even when the Yankees were taking batting practice at Yankee Stadium, Byrnes would be out there early, just taking in the sights and sounds, the only Oakland player out on the field.
He was living his dream, and he wasn't going to miss a minute of it.
"I guess you could say I'm really one who appreciates the opportunity that I've been given," Byrnes said, recalling his experience in the 2001 American League Division Series. "I really enjoy the game. Not only am I a baseball player, but I'm a baseball fan."
Byrnes' love for the game certainly isn't lost on A's GM Billy Beane, who drafted the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder as an eighth-round pick in 1998 out of UCLA, by way of St. Francis High in the Bay Area.
"In my 22 years, I don't think I've been around somebody with that sort of passion and desire to play the game," Beane said. "Eric is one of those kids who seems like each day since he's been with us, he's found a way to up his value to the franchise. He's a pretty special kid, not just in his baseball ability but in his enthusiasm. If there's such a skill, he has this sort of on-field charisma that's infectious."
Byrnes kept that passion shining through this winter and, along the way, helped his chances of being a regular contributor to the A's in 2002. He turned in a stellar performance in the Dominican Winter League this offseason, and he'll enter Spring Training camp with a very good shot at making the club after two years of spot duty in the Majors.
Thing is, he almost didn't make it down to the Dominican.
After the A's were eliminated from the playoffs in five games, Byrnes found himself with an odd feeling: He was ready for a break from baseball.
While the postseason nod was a plus, it had been a long season. After his first appearance in big league spring camp, he didn't make the club and went down to Triple-A Sacramento, batting .289 with 20 homers and 25 steals in 100 games. He rode the shuttle between there and Oakland four times, collecting his first Major League homer on June 9 but never staying in the big leagues for an extended period of time.
"Really, by the time the end of the season came, the last thing I really wanted to do from a personal standpoint was to go off and play more baseball," said Byrnes, 25. "I'd been through a lot personally, just being up and down so many times. I really just wanted to take some time off.
"But I'm also at the point of my career where I'm not going to say it's make-or-break, but it's getting to the point where if I'm going to establish myself as a Major League baseball player, this is the time to do it."
Playing winter ball was key at this juncture, he decided. To reach that realization, Byrnes admits he needed a little push. A's bench coach Ken Macha obliged.
"I've really got to credit Ken Macha, because he's really the one who instilled it in me that this is something I needed to do," Byrnes said.
Good thing he listened. His winter in the Dominican Republic turned out to be nothing short of spectacular.
Playing for the eventual champion Licey Tigres, Byrnes finished second in batting in the highly-rated league with a .345 average in 174 regular-season at-bats. He tied for first with 11 homers and was second in RBIs with 37. His numbers fell off somewhat in the playoffs, but he wasn't there so much for numbers as he was for the experience.
"I didn't go down there saying I wanted to hit .300 or hit 10 homers or anything like that," said Byrnes, back in the U.S. to rest up for Spring Training while the Tigres move on to the Caribbean Series. "I just knew it would be a good experience. The thing I really wanted to do is I just wanted to get better as a baseball player. No matter what I did statistically, I wanted to come back a better baseball player than when I left."
Byrnes feels he accomplished that mission, and so does Beane.
"Each year, he does nothing but improve his stock, and this winter league has been certainly no exception," Beane said.
With veteran David Justice slated for left field, Terrence Long in center and Jermaine Dye in right, Byrnes will have to keep working for his opportunity for playing time. But with Justice possibly seeing significant time as a designated hitter and Dye coming off his leg injury, the window is open for Byrnes, who can play all three outfield positions.
And, having improved himself with a big winter in the Dominican, Byrnes is primed to turn his passion for the game into a chance to really live his dream as a regular on the A's.
"I'd love to say I'm going to go in there and fight for an everyday job, but that's not something that's up to me or something that's in my control," he said. "One of the things that's in my control is I think I have a very good opportunity to make the team.
"I don't know what kind of opportunity there's going to be, but if there is one I've got to be ready to take advantage of it. All I've really tried to do is put myself in that position."
John Schlegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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