Reliever Jason Adam stepping up massive for San Diego Padres, sees ‘His hand by means of all of it’
By Joshua Doering Oct 2, 2024
San Diego Padres pitcher Jason Adam reacts after a strike out, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photograph/Gregory Bull)
Veteran reliever Jason Adam is not any veteran of the MLB playoffs, however he regarded like one Tuesday night time. The 33-year-old San Diego Padres pitcher got here in for the eighth inning of the wild-card matchup with the Atlanta Braves, and he recorded three strikeouts to maintain Petco Park rocking after beginning pitcher Michael King posted 12 strikeouts in his seven innings of labor.
For Adam, it marked simply the second MLB postseason look of his profession, and his first time being a part of a win. He struck out the primary two batters he confronted, allowed a single, then closed out the inning with one other punch out.
>> Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine for more stories where sports and faith connect <<
Jason Adam’s 3Ks within the eighth. pic.twitter.com/TVe9bBzkMy
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 2, 2024
“There’s definitely extra adrenaline,” Adam said after the game when requested if the postseason feels any completely different. “However on the identical time, you simply preserve reminding your self: It’s the identical recreation, good pitches nonetheless get outs, so our job’s to go on the market and make good pitches. It definitely is elevated as a result of everyone knows what’s on the road, however on the identical time it’s the identical recreation.”
The Padres acquired Adam on the July commerce deadline in an effort to strengthen their staff bullpen as they battled for a wild-card spot. He has definitely delivered, posting a 1.01 ERA in 26.2 regular-season innings with San Diego.
General, Adam has a 7-2 file and 1.95 ERA throughout 73.2 complete innings this season, marking the second time in three years he’s posted an ERA below 2.00. Adam made his MLB debut with the Kansas Metropolis Royals in 2018 and hung out with three completely different groups in his first 4 big-league seasons.
He signed with the Rays in 2022 and has been probably the most dependable relievers in baseball over the previous three years. He posted a 2.30 ERA in 170 appearances with Tampa Bay, serving to the staff make the playoffs in 2022 and 2023.
His efficiency additionally earned him a spot on the 2023 U.S. World Baseball Traditional staff that misplaced within the championship recreation to Japan. He didn’t permit a run and struck out 5 batters in 4 innings of labor within the match.
Adam obtained his first style of postseason baseball in 2022, throwing two scoreless innings in a season-ending loss to the Cleveland Guardians in Sport 2 of the wild-card spherical. An indirect pressure prevented him from pitching final season because the Rays had been swept within the wild-card spherical once more.
As irritating because it was to observe his teammates with out with the ability to assist, Adam’s religion in God helped him see the expertise as a possibility to develop.
“You possibly can look again on the instances that issues felt extremely bleak and the instances the place it felt like all the things was going completely, and also you simply see His hand by means of all of it,” Adam said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast in April. “Actually, if I’m being trustworthy, these instances the place issues regarded bleak, in the long term, are the instances I’m most grateful for.”
Adversity is nothing new to Adam, who describes himself as a “Christ follower” on X and Instagram. He missed the 2015 and 2016 seasons due to points along with his elbow and spent seven years within the minors earlier than reaching the majors.
The Omaha, Nebraska, native shared on the podcast that as he was getting near returning on the finish of the 2016 season, he felt one other pop in his elbow. He knew there was little or no likelihood the group he was with on the time, the Minnesota Twins, would carry him again. Adam walked residence from the ability and broke down.
“That was actually the second that God used to carry me to my knees and be like, all proper, baseball is a horrible god,” he stated. “ work ethic is even a horrible god. Each good issues, however horrible gods.”
By no means afraid to be outspoken in regards to the significance of the Lord in his life, Adam has additionally put his religion into motion by serving in the neighborhood. Although he’s not a member of the Rays, he was named the staff’s nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, which acknowledges gamers for his or her character and community involvement.
He’ll at all times be part of the Rays household. 🩵
For his in depth work within the Tampa Bay group, Jason Adam stays our 2024 Roberto Clemente Award nominee.
Vote for Jason: https://t.co/qfPYvB1Epf pic.twitter.com/AFeKyqxBqy
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) September 9, 2024
“It’s, surely, the best honor of my profession,” Adam told Sports Illustrated. “I feel it’s laborious to place into phrases. … On the finish of the day, the purpose is to make use of baseball … to make the lives of individuals round you just a bit bit higher.”
Adam and the Padres host the Atlanta Braves in Sport 2 of their best-of-three NL Wild Card Collection at 8:38 p.m. ET Wednesday. If wanted, Sport 3 can be on Thursday.
>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<
RELATED STORIES:
— SS PODCAST: Pitcher Jason Adam on standing firm in faith, being bold for Jesus
— Jason Adam anchoring Rays bullpen while keeping trust in God’s goodness
— Pitcher Jason Adam will continue ‘living truly for Jesus’ after trade to Toronto
— SS PODCAST: MLB pitcher Jason Adam on trusting God throughout difficult ’21
— All-Star Jake Cronenworth leans on the Lord as he helps Padres in MLB playoffs
