Mariners’ Jean Segura: Robinson Canó news ‘broke my heart’
May 19, 2018, 1:56 PM
Jean Segura on Robinson Canó's suspension: "It's been tough. He needs friends." (AP)
(AP)
Nobody is closer to Robinson Canó in the Mariners’ clubhouse than his double play partner and fellow countryman, Jean Segura.
And that’s why Segura took the news of Canó’s 80-game suspension this week as hard as anybody.
“It broke my heart,” Segura told 710 ESPN Seattle’s Danny, Dave and Moore on Friday at Safeco Field (find the full interview here).
Segura channeled his emotions after hearing the news Tuesday, going 3 for 5 with three runs, a walk, an RBI and a whopping four stolen bases in a 9-8 win over Texas that night.
Jean was bringin' it all night. 🤖⚾ pic.twitter.com/pQniBA9zKQ
— Mariners (@Mariners) May 16, 2018
Now he’s focused on helping Canó through a trying time in his life while continuing to be one of the leaders of the Mariners’ push to break their long postseason drought.
“It’s been tough. He needs friends,” Segura said of Canó, who was away from the team seeing a specialist for a broken pinkie in Philadelphia when news of his drug policy violation came out. “He needs people to reach out to him and feel the support.
“For me, I give him everything I got for this guy because he’s one of my best friends. … Even though he fell, he made a mistake, he’s still a human. He’s the same person that everybody met when he signed a contract here in Seattle. I think for Robbie right now give him more support, (as much as) you can.”
Even with Canó, the Mariners’ usual No. 3 hitter, gone until August, Segura doesn’t see that as reason enough to prevent Seattle from building on its strong start to the season.
“We still have a pretty good lineup,” Segura said. “… We need to grind it, we need to continue to play our game.”
At home in the PNW
Segura also spoke to Danny, Dave and Moore about how he found a home and a newfound love for his job after joining the Mariners prior to the 2017 season.
“I just go home and I can’t wait until the next day to come here and play baseball because now my love for the game came back – even if I’m 0 for 4 or 0 for 20,” he said. “… That was the problem before, I didn’t feel that kind of love. I (would) go to the field, I was kinda lost, I was kinda pouty, I was kinda like, ‘I don’t care what happens.’ … Now I’m kind of a different kind of player. As a person, too, I’m way better than I was before.”
Segura quickly became a piece of the Mariners’ core last year, signing a five-year, $70 million extension during the season. Not only is it paying off for Seattle – entering Saturday, Segura is hitting .311 (ninth in the American League) with 29 RBIs (tied 14th AL) and 11 stolen bases (tied third AL) on 12 attempts – it’s allowed Segura to settle into an area he has grown to love.
“I love it. I like the weather, even though you know sometimes it’s rainy and cold. I like the city. I think it’s one of the most beautiful cities I have been to in baseball.”
