By Pete Cava

PBR Indiana Correspondent

In the bottom of the first inning at Indianapolis on August 25, Jarrett Grube took the mound for the Columbus Clippers against the host Indians.  A near-capacity crowd of 13,488 jammed into Victory Field for the Friday night International League contest, including some two dozen friends and relatives of Grube’s. 

“My parents (Danny and Patti), my wife (Alyssa) and my daughter (Ensley Amber) came down,” said the lanky Fort Wayne native.  “One of my high school coaches had a group.  Some of the kids I grew up with and played basketball with came.  So did my uncle and eight members of my cousin’s family.”  

The contingent had made the trek to Indianapolis from northeastern Indiana, where Grube grew up in the town of Corunna.  “I always love coming here to Indy, pitching in front of all these fans, and the atmosphere,” he said.  “(The Indians) always have a really competitive team.  I enjoy it a lot.  

“Today was a special day for me.  I told my wife, ‘You never know.  This could be my last game on Indiana soil.’” 

Grube will turn 36 in November.  His right arm has taken him from DeKalb High School in Waterloo, Ind., to the University of Memphis, and from there to a professional baseball career in 2004.  

Before reaching the majors with the Los Angeles Angels three summers ago, Grube spent 11 years pitching for teams in the minors and in independent ball.  His lone big league outing was a relief appearance for the Angels on May 21, 2014, against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim.  He faced three batters and threw seven pitches. 

Grube has pitched for farm clubs in the Rockies, Mariners, Angels, Indians and Blue Jays organizations.  He’s played for teams in Venezuela, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.  In 2015 he wore the jersey of Team USA for the Premier 12 Tournament in Taiwan and Japan.  

After the 2016 season, Grube became a free agent.  “I was supposed to go to Japan this year,” said Jarrett, who was courted during the off-season by the Orix Buffaloes.  “I thought it was going to get done.  But they work in different ways.  You don’t want to sit there and wait on them to give you a final answer, to get a contract done.” 

Early last December, with no concrete offer from Japan, Grube signed with Toronto.  He opened the 2017 season with the Blue Jays’ class AAA affiliate in Buffalo, and after 11 starts had a 2-3 slate.  On June 18, Buffalo dealt him to Columbus, Cleveland’s top farm club, where Grube had spent parts of two previous campaigns.  

The trade reunited Grube with Columbus skipper Chris Tremie.  “It’s just a pleasure having him around,” said Tremie, a burly, rugged-looking former big league catcher who has managed the Clippers since 2013.  “He’s a professional.  He takes the ball and does a really good job whenever he has an opportunity to pitch.” 

Grube’s first tour of duty in Columbus began in June 2015, when he joined the Clippers from Quintana Roo of the Mexican League.  In 15 games for Columbus he went 9-0 with a 2.26 earned run average, helping the Clippers to a first-place finish in the IL West.  Columbus went on to defeat Indianapolis for the Governor’s Cup. 

This time around with the Clippers, Grube was 4-4 with a 3.28 ERA heading into the August 25 game at Indianapolis.  With seven victories in Grube’s 11 starts, Columbus was still in the IL playoff hunt.  “He’s done very good, very similar to the way he was in 2015 when he pitched for us,” said Tremie.  “We have confidence he’s going to go out and give you a good quality outing every time out.” 

On this night, however, the Clippers gave Grube no support.  He departed after six and one-third innings with Columbus trailing 3-0.  The Clippers avoided a shutout with a ninth-inning tally.  Jarrett’s line included eight hits, a pair of walks and three strikeouts.  “I was trying my hardest,” he said, his darkly handsome face encased in dejection.  “I wasn’t the sharpest I’ve ever been.” 

Asked if his off-season plans include another shot at winter ball in Venezuela or the Dominican, Grube replied:  “I don’t think so.  My daughter and my wife are the important things for me right now, so I’m probably going to spend time with them.” 

At 16 months, Ensley Amber Grube can pick out her father on the diamond.  “She recognizes me on the field when I’m pitching now,” said Jarrett.  “That’s a joy. She’ll point at me and say ‘Da-Da’!”  

Grube, who has a degree from Memphis, isn’t sure what lies ahead.  With all his experience, coaching seems like a plausible eventuality.  “I’ve thought about that many times,” he said.  “I do know I’m going to at least take some time off, like (Columbus) pitching coach Steve Karsay did.  He took a few years off, golfed a lot, kind of did his thing.  Then he got the itch, and now he’s back.  

“I think I’ll probably try that route.  Take some time, evaluate, and see where I’m at.”  

If Grube ever needs a reference, he’ll get one from Chris Tremie.  “That’s going to be up to him, obviously,” said Tremie of Jarrett’s coaching prospects.  “But if that’s what his future holds, I think he would do a fantastic job.”  

Pete Cava is the author of “Tales From the Cubs Dugout” and “Indiana-Born Major League Baseball Players:  A Biographical Dictionary, 1871-2014.”