Randy Johnson visits Arizona Diamondbacks on first day of spring training workouts
Feb 20, 2015, 9:22 PM | Updated: 9:23 pm
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Standing 6-foot-10, Randy Johnson is an imposing figure.
Even now, five years removed from the last time he wore the uniform and at the ripe young age of 51, his presence is impressive.
Even to current Major Leaguers.
“Hopefully, you get used to him being around and then maybe not be as intimated,” right-hander Trevor Cahill said, smiling. “It’s nice to having somebody like that who’s been through it and played for so long. Whatever he says you kind of listen.”
And that’s the point, according to first-year manager Chip Hale.
“He’s been through a lot of different things and toughness and mental toughness and he can talk about it,” he said of Johnson, who just last month was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. “Guys like to listen to guys who have had success, that’s just the way it is. People who have success can go out and make a lot of money speaking, so there’s a reason for it.”
Johnson, wearing a Diamondbacks Sedona Red polo shirt, watched the first day of spring training workouts for pitchers and catchers at Salt River Fields.
He stopped briefly to observe Cahill throw a bullpen session.
“I didn’t even know he was watching me until he said something,” Cahill said. “He’s obviously had a lot of success, and it’s nice to see him back around the game and around here where he’s had so much success.”
Hale is unsure how often Johnson will be around, though the five-time Cy Young award winner is scheduled to address the pitchers Monday.
Beyond that, his visits will likely depend on his schedule.
When he does stop by, Hale said Johnson wants to spend his time with the minor league pitchers.
“He wants to have some ability to talk to them and sort of shape them a little more, so I think that’s neat,” Hale said. “That’s always good because when you get a guy who’s done as well as he has, it’s hard to get them to go back and work with minor leaguers. They want to be out with the big league guys, but he’s really excited to be with the minor league guys, which is impressive.”
Johnson wasn’t the only former All-Star and World Series champion in camp.
Joe Carter, recently named special assistant to general manager Dave Stewart, was making the rounds, getting used to his new surroundings.
“You walk around here and you see Randy Johnson, you see Joe Carter, you see Tony La Russa, it’s kind of surreal,” closer Addison Reed said. “Those guys, if you have any questions you need to ask about any situation, any scenario, those guys have been through it, they’ve seen it, they know how to do it. Just to be able to be around these guys and be able to ask them whatever is kind of surreal, and I think it’s something that I’m going to definitely take advantage of it.”
