Adam Greenberg completed his long trip back to the major leagues on Tuesday night, receiving one at-bat as the Florida Marlins defeated the New York Mets 4-3 on Tuesday night in 12 innings.
As Greenberg stepped up to the plate in the sixth inning as a pinch hitter the crowd roared with applause. He faced crafty knuckleballer R.A. Dickey and struck out on three pitches, registering his first true at-bat since getting hit in the head in his only MLB appearance seven years ago.
"It was magical," Greenberg said to the Associated Press. "The energy in the stadium was something I never experienced, and I don't know if I will ever experience it again. You could just feel the genuine support. It was awesome."
Here is a video of Greenberg's at-bat.
Dickey said later that he treated Greenberg like any other major leaguer, which was a welcome attitude for the returning player.
"I wanted him to have his moment. For sure, I tried to give him as much time as I felt like I could before I got on the rubber," Dickey said. "I think the story far transcends the result of the at-bat. Just like I said before, that was important -- for him and me, I think -- for me to treat him like a big leaguer."
Greenberg faced three straight knuckleballs from Dickey, looking at the first for a strike and swinging and missing on the next two. Although he was unsuccessful in his one at-bat, Greenberg has nothing to feel shame about.
"A lot of mixed emotions there, getting high-fived after a strikeout by the entire team," Greenberg said. "It was different."
He returned to the majors as a 31-year-old, seven years after getting hit in the head by a 92-mph fastball that put a major pause on his baseball career. After help from filmmaker Matt Liston, who created the "One At-Bat" campaign, and the Florida Marlins, Greenberg began a new chapter of his career.
Manager Ozzie Guillen brought Greenberg to the plate in the sixth for outfielder Bryan Petersen.
"You know what went through my mind?" Guillen said. "I said how lucky I was to get 10,000 at-bats in the big leagues."
The at-bat lasted only 33 seconds for Greenberg, but it was an important moment that will never be forgotten.
"It's going to last an eternity for me," he said.
Greenberg plans to try to make a full comeback with a team, possibly coming to spring training next year with the Marlins.
"Hopefully there is going to be a lot more of this. This is good stuff," Greenberg said at a pregame news conference. "I want to show everyone I can play, although you can never really truly do that in one at-bat, especially if it ends up being against Dickey."
Seven years ago, Greenberg came into a game for the Cubs as a pinch hitter to face the Marlins' Valerio De Los Santos with one out in the ninth inning. The first and only pitch he faced came directly at his head, striking him on the back of the helmet, knocking it off his head. He immediately went down to the ground and grabbed his head in intense pain.
He struggled for years after the incident, dealing with concussion symptoms and dizziness. In 2006 he was released by the Cubs and later played for other minor league teams, but never had another chance to get to the majors until the Marlins came calling.
"I was concerned more with the quality of my life than playing ball," he said. "It was a tough time."
Until Tuesday, Greenberg was one of only two players in baseball history to be hit by a pitch in his first-and-only major-league appearance and never take the field, the other being Fred van Dusen with Philadelphia in 1955.
van Dusen was in attendance for the game on Tuesday, throwing out the first pitch and supporting Greenberg in his at-bat.
"Life throws you curveballs," Greenberg said. "Mine threw me a fastball at 92, and it hit me in the back of the head. I got up from it, and my life is great."
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