The press release sent out by the New Britain Rock Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Twins and where Rainville was stationed at the time of Thursday’s announcement, stated the burly right-hander “voluntarily retired.” It’s a scenario few imagined five short summers ago, when Rainville was poised to chart a course though the Minnesota farm system.
Ultimately injuries took their toll, most notably the repairing of a compressed nerve in his throwing shoulder, a procedure Rainville underwent in 2006. That surgery, it turns out, robbed Rainville of the strength he utilized to generate the mid 90s fastball he displayed regularly during his Hendricken tenure and in his early days in the Twins’ system.
“I’m certain that surgery took its toll on Jay, and I don’t think he ever really was able to throw the ball the way he was used to throwing,” said Knapp, currently the pitching coach for the Detroit Tigers. “The nerve was dying, and they had to release it. It was quite an entailed process to get blood following back into that nerve. If they didn’t do the surgery, he wouldn’t be able to throw, period.”
Knapp mentioned back in 2007 that the normal waiting period, based on the type of procedure Rainville underwent, usually takes in the neighborhood of two years before the “old” velocity resurfaces. That would have put Rainville on target for June 2008. His first post-operation season yielded encouraging signs, yielding a 9-11 record with a 3.29 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 142 1/3 innings for Single-A Fort Myers.
The last two years have been marred by injuries and inconsistencies. Rainville got 2008 off to a rocky start as a member of New Britain’s rotation, struggling so badly that he returned to Fort Myers midseason for a few weeks.
Rainville eventually returned to the Rock Cats, finishing 9-9 with a 5.74 ERA in 24 starts. What was probably even more alarming was the high batting average (.289) and hits (143 in 123 innings) he surrendered.
Campbell, who to this day remains in close contact with Rainville and his parents, Ed and Jane, said he got together for a session with his former pupil prior to this past spring training.
“He was throwing 92 right before he went to Florida, he was throwing terrific,” recalled Campbell. “His father was there and said that was the hardest Jay had thrown in the previous year. We got back to the stuff he was doing in high school. He felt good and had worked out with [St. Raphael alum and Colorado catcher] Chris Iannetta during the winter, playing long toss. He was in good shape heading down.”
Repeating New Britain was deemed in Rainville’s forecast, even though the 6-foot-3, 230-pounder had spent a considerable amount of time in Triple-A Rochester’s camp. The struggles lingered on, leaving New Britain little choice but to place Rainville in the bullpen. The “demotion” came in mid-June after Rainville featured a 5.43 ERA in 13 starts, striking out 31 and allowing opponents to hit at a .305 clip in 61 1/3 innings.
“His mentality is to be a starter, and to make that adjustment to the bullpen, some guys can make it and others can’t,” Campbell said. “Your preparation is totally different in that ‘Can you get ready quickly?’”
Rainville made four relief appearances, spanning 5 2/3 innings, before landing on the disabled list on July 7 with a right shoulder strain. He was reinstated on August 4, tossing a scoreless inning that same night. His final outing in a New Britain uniform occurred last Saturday (five hits and one run in 1 2/3 innings).
“I’m certain that Jay had a passion for the game that would have led to him being a major leaguer,” said Knapp. “That said, it’s difficult to separate how your body is feeling and what your mind is trying to accomplish.
“This kid was mature beyond his years. He signed out of high school but had a pretty keen sense about what’s what,” continued Knapp. “Maybe he felt he was stalled, that his stuff wasn’t going to get much better than it was. With the stuff he currently had, it probably would have been a lull. It would have taken him a lot longer than he really was willing to put in.”
The question being bandied about now is where Rainville, who signed for $875,000, goes from here. He recently purchased a house in Cranston and has plans to get married this December. In terms of whether this is simply a cooling off period, or his time in pro ball is officially over, only Rainville can provide the answer.
“He’s not all done to me, unless the injury really is bad,” expressed Campbell. “As far as I know he never had any arm problems.”
“Until you talk to him, you don’t know what his thoughts are,” Knapp said.
“People see the glamorous part of the game. The other part of the game is the guy giving his guts and last breath to be successful,” said Ryan. “Whatever decision Jay makes I’m sure in his heart he’s made the right one.”