Ex-Husker Morris beats cancer, returns to diamond
Every season, roughly 8,000 people play professional baseball in the United States. Each year, just more than 5,000 Americans are diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Jed Morris has been a member of both groups.
Over a span of 18 months, the former Nebraska catcher was diagnosed with leukemia, underwent chemotherapy, suffered a broken hand, and stubbornly worked his way back to a starting job in professional baseball.
Last week, the resilient Morris was the opening-day catcher for the Class A Stockton Ports in the California League.
“When I showed up last year in Arizona (for a rehab assignment), I was playing hard and playing the same. The big question was whether I could do it every day, and I think that’s the question right now,” Morris said.
His tribulations began in August 2006, while the 2002 Big 12 player of the year was playing for Midland, Texas, the double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. The catcher and occasional outfielder was suffering persistent nosebleeds and unusual fatigue, prompting a visit to his doctor. The 26-year-old Morris was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia, a type of blood cancer.
“The reaction from other people was actually harder to take for me,” said Morris, who was hitting .306 at the time. “My reaction was just, ‘Let’s take care of this, and I have no idea what’s going to happen.’ If we take care of it, and I’m able to do anything, then why not just keep doing what I was doing? I had an attitude that I’ll play again if I’m healthy.”
Morris underwent six rounds of chemotherapy at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., between September and December of 2006.
“I was in the hospital for about a month, and I was in complete remission after that. I was 15 pounds lighter, and was starting to look a lot different — my hair started falling out after the second round of chemo. I looked a lot different when I looked at myself in the mirror.”
While Morris was undergoing treatment, a groundswell of support developed for him. The Jed Morris Victory Fund was established by his former teams in Midland, Texas; Modesto, Calif.; and Stockton to help pay for medical expenses. In Lincoln, Nebraska baseball coach Mike Anderson helped organize the March 2007 “Swing for a Cure” fundraiser that brought in more than $11,000 for the former Husker slugger.
“That stuff was really overwhelming. I was in the hospital when I first heard about it. That took care of hospital bills, which were a big stress. I felt just overwhelmingly blessed.”
In early 2007, Morris reported to the Athletics’ minor-league spring training facility in Phoenix to continue his recovery in extended spring training. Before Morris could re-establish himself on the field, however, he suffered a broken hand playing in the rookie-level Arizona League in late July.
While recovering from his fractured hand, Morris was encouraged by the well-publicized story of Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester, who had made a recovery from another type of blood cancer, lymphoma, to return to the major leagues.
“Seeing that guy on TV, playing baseball, and the announcers talking about what all he’s gone through, was definitely uplifting.”
And while Oakland’s recent trades of Dan Haren and Nick Swisher have filled its farm system with prospects, Morris is optimistic about his spot in the organization. He believes that he’s not just a charity case — he’s still a prospect.
“I’ve talked to them about the outfield situation, but they’re kind of logjammed with the outfielders, and I’ve talked to them about the catching situation, and they definitely have their guys in line, Morris said. “But they don’t always pan out because those guys can go through stuff, too. If something came around and knocked them out, I not only have the experience, but the capability of playing at a high level, and knowing that, I think I’m more than just a reserve policy.“
Morris has options beyond the team he’s currently with, however. After the 2008 season, he’ll be eligible to become a minor-league free agent, and the .282 minor-league career hitter isn’t about to give up on himself.
“This is my free-agent year, so if I can play well in a full season, I think there’s the option that if Oakland don’t see a place for me in the organization, somebody else will, and they’ll pick me up.”
Over a span of 18 months, the former Nebraska catcher was diagnosed with leukemia, underwent chemotherapy, suffered a broken hand, and stubbornly worked his way back to a starting job in professional baseball.
Last week, the resilient Morris was the opening-day catcher for the Class A Stockton Ports in the California League.
“When I showed up last year in Arizona (for a rehab assignment), I was playing hard and playing the same. The big question was whether I could do it every day, and I think that’s the question right now,” Morris said.
His tribulations began in August 2006, while the 2002 Big 12 player of the year was playing for Midland, Texas, the double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. The catcher and occasional outfielder was suffering persistent nosebleeds and unusual fatigue, prompting a visit to his doctor. The 26-year-old Morris was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia, a type of blood cancer.
“The reaction from other people was actually harder to take for me,” said Morris, who was hitting .306 at the time. “My reaction was just, ‘Let’s take care of this, and I have no idea what’s going to happen.’ If we take care of it, and I’m able to do anything, then why not just keep doing what I was doing? I had an attitude that I’ll play again if I’m healthy.”
Morris underwent six rounds of chemotherapy at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., between September and December of 2006.
“I was in the hospital for about a month, and I was in complete remission after that. I was 15 pounds lighter, and was starting to look a lot different — my hair started falling out after the second round of chemo. I looked a lot different when I looked at myself in the mirror.”
While Morris was undergoing treatment, a groundswell of support developed for him. The Jed Morris Victory Fund was established by his former teams in Midland, Texas; Modesto, Calif.; and Stockton to help pay for medical expenses. In Lincoln, Nebraska baseball coach Mike Anderson helped organize the March 2007 “Swing for a Cure” fundraiser that brought in more than $11,000 for the former Husker slugger.
“That stuff was really overwhelming. I was in the hospital when I first heard about it. That took care of hospital bills, which were a big stress. I felt just overwhelmingly blessed.”
In early 2007, Morris reported to the Athletics’ minor-league spring training facility in Phoenix to continue his recovery in extended spring training. Before Morris could re-establish himself on the field, however, he suffered a broken hand playing in the rookie-level Arizona League in late July.
While recovering from his fractured hand, Morris was encouraged by the well-publicized story of Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester, who had made a recovery from another type of blood cancer, lymphoma, to return to the major leagues.
“Seeing that guy on TV, playing baseball, and the announcers talking about what all he’s gone through, was definitely uplifting.”
And while Oakland’s recent trades of Dan Haren and Nick Swisher have filled its farm system with prospects, Morris is optimistic about his spot in the organization. He believes that he’s not just a charity case — he’s still a prospect.
“I’ve talked to them about the outfield situation, but they’re kind of logjammed with the outfielders, and I’ve talked to them about the catching situation, and they definitely have their guys in line, Morris said. “But they don’t always pan out because those guys can go through stuff, too. If something came around and knocked them out, I not only have the experience, but the capability of playing at a high level, and knowing that, I think I’m more than just a reserve policy.“
Morris has options beyond the team he’s currently with, however. After the 2008 season, he’ll be eligible to become a minor-league free agent, and the .282 minor-league career hitter isn’t about to give up on himself.
“This is my free-agent year, so if I can play well in a full season, I think there’s the option that if Oakland don’t see a place for me in the organization, somebody else will, and they’ll pick me up.”
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