Andrew Saalfrank returns to D-backs after serving suspension for gambling
Andrew Saalfrank returns to D-backs after serving suspension for gambling
Andrew Saalfrank returned to the Diamondbacks clubhouse for the first time in over a year on Monday.
On the Saturday before the All-Star break, he appeared in his first MLB game in over a year.
Saalfrank had recently been called up from Triple-A Reno to help the D-backs navigate their many injuries in the bullpen. Before that, he had been reinstated by MLB after serving his one-year suspension for violating the league's sports betting policy.
Saalfrank had placed $445.87 in bets on 28 MLB games and a college baseball parlay between September of 2021 and March of 2022. At the time, he was in the minor leagues, rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. None of the bets he placed involved the team for which he played.
He spoke to 12 News journalist Jake Garcia as the D-backs began the second half of the season on Monday.
Q: How did it feel to take a Major League mound for the first time in more than a year? What was going through your head?
A: There were a lot of nerves as expected. Warming up was obviously pretty nerve-wracking, but once you get into it, it kind of falls back into place of being the same game, get a guy out and then it’s like ok, kind of a sigh of relief. This is what you worked for, for the last year and to get back up there and be able to contribute and to help out the team a little bit was a really good feeling.
Q: Can you take me through the type of work you were doing to get back to this point? You were working at your agency’s gym here in Arizona?
A: My agency has a place up in Cave Creek so not too far from my house. It was nice to have access to some high level facilities to go up there and get what I needed done. Just kind of did everything I could do in the 11 months. That last month before the reinstatement date, I was able to be at Salt River Fields so that was nice to get back there and get back around the guys and be in a team environment more so than the individual environment I was in for that other duration of time.
Q: What have these past 365 days taught you? What have you learned about yourself and your place in this game?
A: As quick as the game can come, the game can leave just as quick. (I’m) just trying to value every day. Early on, you have that date circled of when you can come back. I think we just lost a little bit of time kind of in the middle looking forward too much. Just focus on today. Worry about tomorrow, tomorrow. You want to be cognizant and think about the future, but at the same time, it was just enjoying that day and winning that day and just trying to make the most of that day. Just figure out the next one out the next day.
Q: Have you felt a lot of support in your return back? Has there been any hostility with people thinking you shouldn’t be on a baseball field again? What is your response to those people?
A: It’s been nothing but support. To even come up with a hypothetical of how I would feel would be a waste of my time. Nothing but support from friends, family back home, here, teammates, coaches, everybody you could imagine. I wouldn’t say it’s like it never happened, but at the same time they’re treating me as if it never happened. It’s awesome for me to be able to go about my day just as normal as I would last year before anything came out. Nothing but love and support from everyone and anyone. It’s been a really good environment to come back into.
Q: Is the way you’ve processed this whole thing just ‘that was a dumb mistake that I made, not going to do it again, better person moving forward?’
A: Yeah, it happened a handful of years ago and I think just even in the time between then and now, not necessarily this last year, I think there’s a lot of growth as a person both on and off the field. There’s been a lot of time since everything happened. Just a lot of growth in general. There’s a lot of people around me, the people that know me that would be able to say it was a very consistent, gradual growth moving forward. I like where I’m at today. Just keep going with that.
Q: You’re not here as a charity case. You can actually help this team. The bullpen’s been beaten down by injury. What do you think you can add to this team for the second half of the year?
A: Just coming in and trying to get outs. That’s what we’re here for. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter how you get them, but just throwing up zeros, getting outs, trying to do my job, pass the baton to the next guy and he can go do his job. It’s nice knowing I’m here to be here not just necessarily to make a cool story out of it. Really great job by the organization to help me feel that way to help me feel that way that I’m here to help the team and get outs. I’m that next guy up and it’s been a really enjoyable environment to come back into.
