Former SRJC baseball star Jason Lane, and Red Sox All-Star third baseman Kevin Youkilis worked out at SRJC before spring training to get ready for more successful 2012 big league season.
“I have been coming back to the JC every year of my career to workout. I start in October and leave for spring training in February,” Lane said.
Lane’s comfort with the campus stems from the time he spent playing baseball for the Bear Cubs from 1996-97. He starred as both an outfielder and pitcher for SRJC. Upon transfer, Lane took his talents to the University of Southern California, helping the Trojans win a National Championship.
Lane was a sixth-round draft pick in 1999 by the Houston Astros. Since then, he has played for various minor and major league organizations. Lane finds himself in an exclusive club of players who can say they played in a World Series. Lane played in the 2005 Fall Classic between the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox. Not only did Lane get the rare chance of playing in the World Series; but he also hit a home run. Lane credits all this success to his days as a Bear Cub.
“My memories of junior college are of learning how to play the game right and learning a work ethic that has carried me through my baseball career. I remember everyone coming together with the same goal to win games. It was baseball at its purest form,” Lane said.
After spending last season in Las Vegas playing for the Toronto Blue Jays Triple-A team, Lane is now a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. He signed a minor league contract with an invite to spring training as a pitcher with a chance to play outfield. Lane hopes this new opprotunity allows him to achieve baseball’s ultimate prize.
“My goal is always to get to the major leagues and help my team get back to the World Series,” Lane said.
Unlike Lane, Youkilis is new to SRJC. He decided to workout at SRJC after renting a house in Glen Ellen. He arrived a week before Thanksgiving and did not start hitting until after New Year’s Eve. Youkilis was not only a stranger to SRJC, but also to Lane.
“It was great to meet Jason and be able to talk baseball and hit at SRJC and his own batting cage. It has been a great experience spending time with him and working on hitting,” Youkilis said.
Youkilis had his toughest season due to injuries as the Red Sox experienced a historic collapse: losing a nine game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL wild-card race. The Red Sox went 7-20 in September, making it their worst September since 1952. He had a sports hernia and hip bursitis that forced him out of the lineup. Both injuries have since healed and he is feeling good. Youkilis hopes to stay healthy and win another championship.
“My only major goals for this season are to win the American League East division and to stay healthy. Winning teams have all 25 players performing well in order to win the World Series, so I hope our whole team can stay as healthy as possible all year long,” Youkilis said.
Although they have taken different paths and found success at different times in the big leagues, Lane and Youkilis both exemplify that greatness comes from dealing with adversity.
The 2012 Spring Training season is underway and even though Lane and Youkilis are healthy and ready to play, neither have gotten much time on the field.
Lane has yet to take the mound for the Diamondbacks and Youkilis has only played in one game so far. He went 0-2 with a walk in the game against the Balitmore Orioles March 6.