Robert Osuna says he has not felt like himself away from the ballpark and will work with a psychologist as he hopes to remain with the Blue Jays.
Toronto Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna said Saturday that he has been experiencing anxiety recently, and hopes to remain with the club as he works through the problem.
Osuna, 22, was unavailable Friday night as the Blue Jays gave up four ninth-inning runs to the Kansas City Royals to lose 5-4. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said Osuna was “not feeling well.”
Saturday, Osuna opted to clarify his absence, saying he felt “anxious and lost” in recent days.
“I’m not myself right now, ” Osuna said, according to Sportsnet . “I don’t know how to explain it. I’m just a little bit lost right now.
“I wish I knew how to get out of this.”
Osuna said he will work with a psychologist and hopes to pitch in the meantime.
He’s not the first player to address anxiety or mental health issues during the grind of a major league season; many players opt to take a leave as they grapple with the malady.
Shortstop Khalil Greene was placed on the disabled list by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2009 as he dealt with an anxiety disorder, a condition that largely led to the end of his career in 2010. Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto was placed on the disabled list in 2009 as he battled depression in the ongoing wake of his father’s 2008 death.
And most notably, pitcher Zack Greinke took several months of leave in 2006 to address a social anxiety disorder and depression.
Osuna is having perhaps the best of his three seasons with the Blue Jays, striking out 37 batters in 29 innings and posting a 0.79 walks and hits per inning (WHIP) . He says his anxiety is limited to times away from the ballpark.
“This has nothing to do with me being on the field, ” he said. “I feel great out there. It’s just when I’ m out of baseball.
“When I’ m not on the field, I feel just weird and a little bit lost. I wish I knew how to get out of this. We’ re working on it. We’ re trying to find ways to see what can make me feel better.”
