Last August, when he was released by the Blue Jays de Toronto, Jean-Christophe Masson was made to see a day on the field like a burden. A baseball season in France and its current presence at the capitals training camp quickly rekindled its passion.
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“I found the fire inside me,” said the 22-year-old young man at Henri-Casault Park, where the capitals are preparing for the season that begins on Friday at New Jersey.
Masson does not know if he will be an adventure. Patrick Scalabrini has made no promise to voltiseur.
What he is convinced, however, is that after a questioning at the end of his four years in the organization of the Jays, the one who was drafted in 26e Round in 2019 addresses baseball of a new eye.
“I was in a gray area in my life. I no longer knew where I was. I did not have a plan at school, I did not know what to do. I no longer knew if I wanted to continue baseball. There, I see my sport from another perspective, ”said Lévis player.
A salutary trip
Faced with this dead end, last fall, Masson saw an opportunity that he had not imagined appearing to him. He headed for Rouen, where he helped the Huskies win the French championship by producing 37 points, a summit in the team. He struck 41 strokes in 134 stick in the stick.
-“I told myself that it was perfect to live something far from my home to think while continuing to play to keep me in the bath. In France, I was very well received, and we won the championship in a good level of competition. It was super cool.
“It allowed me to assimilate everything that had happened with the Blue Jays and to situate myself for the future. I found a gratitude prospect and I realized that I was lucky to play baseball every day, ”he said.
Back to Quebec
In the middle of his season in Rouen, Masson realized by chatting with his father that he wanted to give himself every chance of unraveling with the capitals.
Now he fights for a position with the team he supported at the Canac stadium throughout his youth and during his visit to the Sport-Studies program with the Canonniers de Québec.
“It was by jased with my father that I chose to get involved, go to the Capitals training camp and try all-in“, He said, specifying that he worked during the winter to gain muscle mass to increase his power.
“I have to show my power, which is normally one of my main assets. To date in my career, this power has not released enough in the matches. It works in practice, but I have to manage to bring it in the situations of matches, “he noted.
Now that doubts are behind him, Masson no longer maintains a bitterness. Her place is with the capitals that he wishes to find it.
“I think the Jays really gave me my chance. I lived incredible years, I lived a lot of things, I grew up. I don’t want to see him anymore as if something flat had happened to me.
“What I want now is playing for my city. It is an honor to wear this sweater. ”
