The Nationals likely don’t win it all in 2019 without Patrick Corbin, but the next four years of that six-year deal he signed before ’19 didn’t go as well as anyone hoped – including him.
But this year is his last ride, and one last chance to leave on the same high note he came in with – even if he’s not yet thinking about that.
“I guess I haven't really dove in it too much, still treat it like any other off-season – try to find ways to get better and come in here and take the ball every fifth day,” Corbin told Grant & Danny this week in West Palm Beach. “I've enjoyed my time here, obviously 2019 was an incredible ride and some things have happened since then, a lot of turnover and change here, but to still be here, still excited as ever.”
Corbin feels good physically, and has added a cutter to his repertoire as he dives into why the last few seasons have been a struggle – but he’s proud that through it all, he has indeed taken the ball every fifth day and been a rock for the younger guys the way others were for him.
“I take pride in taking the ball every fifth day, that's just always been a big part of what I want to do. When I first came here, a big reason was Max (Scherzer) and Stephen Strasburg; I wanted to be part of a rotation with those two guys,” Corbin said. “Now it’s kind of flipped where it's a lot of younger guys who are really talented and trying to make their way in this game. You try to lead by example; there's a lot of, a lot of highs and lows in this game, and I try to be the same guy. It's a long season, you’ll make 30-plus starts and things aren’t always gonna go your way, so it’s knowing how to control that and try to improve off of things you do well and don't do well and go from there as much as you can. It's been a long ride, but each and every day still trying to learn stuff, even from some of these younger guys, and hopefully, they've learned from me.”
Corbin isn’t shy about lending his advice, whether it’s sought or given, or even in conversations that have nothing to do with baseball.
“You just try to be available. You want these guys to come up to you and try to figure out what works for them to stick around in the big leagues,” Corbin said. “A lot of good players here, good competition which I think brings out the best in these guys. The pitching side of it for us, there's a lot of young arms that look good, guys that are gonna look to build off of last season.”
Corbin was the Opening Day starter last season, but Josiah Grat and MacKenzie Gore may be ready to usurp that mantle – and if one of them does, that only means good things for the Nats.
“Obviously it's always an honor to start opening day, and, I mean, it'd be great to hear that again, but you tend just to come here to work on things, get better, and be available when when we do start up,” Corbin said.
“If Davey wants to give me the ball, I will take it, and be ready to go, that's my mindset. But yeah, it's always a special day; opening day is always a little different from some of these other days, and it's the start of a long season. I always get those butterflies still and I think that's the competition part of it; you still get those butterflies that you love to go out there and compete, and the day those go away, maybe that shows you don't care as much, or you're trying to do something else. Once you’re in between the lines, you just compete and want to do your best.”
Still going now 12 years after he made his MLB debut on April 30, 2012, for the Diamondbacks, and at 35 this summer, this could be it for Corbin – and if it is, every day is a gift for a pitcher who, on that day of his debut, never could have expected where he’d be in March 2024.
“I never thought I'd be still doing this. It’s gone by quick, but I think the biggest thing is being consistent, and being a good teammate – not missing your workouts, showing up on time, willing to get better, and being available for your team and trying to find ways to win together,” Corbin said. “I think if you do those things, a lot of things kind of pan out for itself.”