JAKUBAUSKAS

Rainiers’ pitcher has traveled a winding road to reach Triple A

By Karen Westeen

For Tacoma Weekly
Published on: July 03, 2008

If the Rainiers run a “Mr. Versatility” contest this season, the winner would doubtless be starting pitcher Chris Jakubauskas.

“I had (mostly) pitched my whole life, but I started hitting well when I got to Citrus Community College (Glendora, Calif.) So pitching went on the back burner.”

But that’s not his main versatility credential. While attending Damien High School in La Verne, California, Jakubauskas almost single-handedly won the CIF state championship for his team. As a hitter, he tied the game with a homerun. When the team went ahead, he came in out of the pen to save the game. The game was played at Anaheim Stadium, giving Jakubauskas his first taste of playing in a Big League park.

Tom Carroll, athletic director at Damien who has worked at the school in various capacities for more than half a century, remembers this feat of Jakubauskas’ as just part of a sterling high-school career. “Chris was not afraid to take chances,” Carroll said. “He combined hard work with his skill and desire to play.”

That desire and talent led Jakubauskas to the independent leagues when he was ignored in the MLB draft. “I have no idea why I wasn’t drafted,” he said, but it didn’t take him long to find a place where both traits could be used to good advantage.

Jakubauskas signed with Florence, Kentucky, of the Frontier League in 2003 after going to their open tryouts. For the first two of his three years there, he pitched and played some in the field. Then in his third year, he began to concentrate on just pitching, but still feels he could pinch-run if needed.

After Florence he moved on to the Ohio Valley Road Warriors, also an independent team, but with a twist. This team played all its games on the road.

“It was nice because we didn’t have to pay any rent,” Jakubauskas said. “But since we were always a visitor, we never had last the AB. I think we could have pulled out some more wins if we had batted last.”

Jakubauskas got the call to play for now defunct Fullerton Flyers of the Golden Baseball League in 2006 and thee start of 2007. His first year there was the best of his indie career, posting an 8-1 record. He won GBL Pitcher of the Year honors and also was named to the league’s Southern Division All-Star team.

During his time in the Golden League, Jakubauskas got to work with Charlie Hough and former Ms’ pitcher Paul Abbott, both pitching coaches in the league. They gave him some tips that helped develop his talent into something that impressed Major League scouts.

The moment Jakubauskas had waited for all his career came on June 13, 2007.

“After a two-week road trip, I got a call informing me the Mariners had bought my contract.”

He went straight to Double A West Tennessee, something that Jakubauskas calls a highlight of his career. There he got to work with pitching coach Brad Holman, now with the Pirates’ organization.

“Brad made things simple. He’s a good guy, with lots of knowledge and big on the mental game.”

Jakubauskas started the 2008 season with West Tennessee, but after six starts there, he was promoted to Triple A on May 6. This was definitely another highlight of his circuitous career.

“I was on the mound, in the fourth inning, two out, and the pitching coach came out and said ‘You’re done. Give me the ball.’ I told him ‘No I’m not.’”

When the coach explained Jakubauskas was going to Tacoma to pitch a few days later, he gladly turned over the ball.

Jakubauskas enjoys pitching in Tacoma, at least he did until he went on the DL June 13 with shoulder problems. At that time he had a 4-1 record in eight starts, and was third on the staff with an ERA of 3.06. He likes to use a combination of pitches as his out pitch—sometimes a curve ball, more frequently a changeup, but his “go-to” pitch is his fastball.

Jakubauskas said he tries to get a 50-50 mix of fly ball and ground ball outs, but recently he was getting a majority of outs from ground balls.

“It’s fine, whatever keeps the team in a position to win,” he added. “I like to give them innings, keep them close, throw up zeros, then let the offense do its thing. If I keep my pitch count down it helps save the bull pen so they are fresh.”

He has done that. In his eight starts he has averaged nearly six innings per game, giving up just 15 earned runs in 47 innings. His ERA is a respectable 3.06, with 32 strikeouts and 13 walks.

During his short time in Triple A, Jakubauskas has seen only a few Triple A parks. He has been most impressed with Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska, site of the annual College World Series.

“Every player dreams of getting there in college, but I’d much rather play there as a pro,” he said.

Having grown up in Southern California, Jakubauskas enjoys the beach and surfing. Still single, he often spends off-seasons with his family in Upland. Last year he spent the winter in Nashville.

“I like the South a lot,” he said. “The people and the food are nice.”

Two years ago he played winter ball in Cartagena, Colombia, where he helped the Tigers win the league championship. He enjoyed playing in another country, experiencing the culture and getting to use the Spanish he had learned growing up in California.

“Besides,” he added, “where we stayed was only 500 yards from the Caribbean.”

Jakubauskas has a degree in communications from the University of Oklahoma, and he can see a future for himself in sports broadcasting once his playing days are over. He also enjoys coaching young players at camps and clinics and thinks being a Division I coach is another career possibility.

Rainiers’ pitcher has traveled a winding road to reach Triple A

By Karen Westeen

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