Life was good for Steve Schrenk.
Pitching Coach Pro, a company in which he works 1-on-1 with young pitchers of all levels, was taking off.
But the Bethlehem Township resident who spent 16 years as a player and coach in the Phillies organization, including 2019 as the IronPigs pitching coach, had a premonition this spring.
“I told [my wife] Jennefer that I was going to get a phone call now that we’re going so well with our business,” Schrenk said. “We really hit the ground running this year.”
A familiar voice made that call a week later to Schrenk. New York Mets farm director Jeremy Barnes, whom Schrenk coached, asked if the 52-year-old was interested in returning to pro baseball.
It was an easy decision for Schrenk, who in June became the Syracuse Mets’ pitching coach.
Schrenk’s business remains. His wife continues to do the social media and marketing/promotions arms. But he is back in a baseball uniform again.
“I didn’t realize how much I missed it until I got back into it,” he admitted. “I love what I’m doing in the offseason. I always have. I love teaching kids. I’ve always loved teaching pitching. It’s good to get back.”
Schrenk uses Rapsodo and other technology in his Pitching Coach Pro business, so he transitioned smoothly back into pro ball.
Having familiar faces in the Syracuse clubhouse also helped. Jerad Eickhoff, Franklyn Kilome and Tom Windle, former pitchers in the Phillies system, were with Syracuse earlier this summer.
Eickhoff and Kilome remain. Both have had major league time in New York and are working in different roles to return. Kilome transitioned earlier this year to reliever.
The 26-year-old is doing well out of the bullpen after adjusting mentally. He is 2-2 with one save and a 2.45 ERA in 13 relief outings entering Thursday.
“I told him the quickest way to get back to the big leagues in this organization was out of the bullpen,” Schrenk said. “They have their starters in New York. He’s adapted to it. He really likes being able to pitch two, three times a week instead of once.
“I’ve put him in as a closer, set up and a couple of long roles. He’s done it all and bounced back well. It was a tough transition for him. He’s able to go out for an inning or two and let it go. We’ve seen some velocity spikes. His stuff has gotten better. He’ll take any role and not flinch at it.”
Eickhoff, who spent parts of five seasons (2015-19) with the Phillies, has overcome numerous injuries during his prime years of pitching and spent almost all of 2020 away from the majors. He pitched in five games this season with New York, and recently returned to Schrenk after an ankle injury sidelined him last month.
Schrenk’s voice was validated by Eickhoff’s voice in the clubhouse. The 31-year-old right hander is a leader because of his knowledge, work ethic and willingness to help those less experienced.
“Whatever Eick does in life,” Schrenk said, “he’s going to be successful. Does his stuff as he gets older fall off? Definitely, yes. But that competitiveness allows him to keep going back and forth to big leagues.
“He’s eager to learn every day. He wants to get better. He doesn’t ever stop. He keeps a pitching coach on toes. No one will outwork him. You can try, but it’s not going to happen. It’s neat to be back with him again.”
Schrenk used technology during his three-day COVID-19 testing period in June to study all the data and video on the Syracuse Mets pitchers. Mets pitching coordinator Ricky Meinhold spent two days with Schrenk before he flew solo.
The Chicago native enjoyed his return to Coca-Cola Park a couple weeks ago. He’s looking forward to a return to spring training in 2022.
“Now that I’m back doing this, it’s different,” Schrenk said. “Still, it’s a baseball game. It’s what I love to do. It’s why I do it. I don’t do it for the money. You have to be able to make a living, to go on vacation, go out to dinner, have some good times.
“At the end of the day, coaching is in my blood. It’s what I’ve been doing since I was 18.”
How they scored
Bottom 1: Charlie Tilson and Adam Haseley. Luke Williams’ sacrifice fly scored Tilson. IronPigs 1-0.
Bottom 2: Darick Hall hit his 14th home run of the year to lead off. IronPigs 2-0.
Top 3: Max McDowell and Max Burt singled. Two outs later, Chris Gittens hit his 13th homer of the year. It was his eighth in 2021 against the IronPigs. Tied at 3.
Bottom 3: Williams singled with one out, stole second and scored two batters later on Rafael Marchan’s opposite-field double. IronPigs 4-3.
Top 5: Burt, Jonathan Davis and Andrew Velasquez walk with one out, chasing IronPigs starter Cristopher Sanchez. Gittens’ sacrifice fly scored Burt. Tied at 4.
Bottom 6: Tilson was hit by a pitch and took third when Haseley’s grounder was thrown away. Williams’ second sacrifice fly of the game scored Tilson. IronPigs 5-4.
Top 8: Velasquez doubled and stole third one out later. Donny Sands’ single scored Velasquez. Tied at 5.
Bottom 8: Arquimedes Gamboa doubled and Tilson was hit by a pitch. Gamboa took third on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt and scored on Haseley’s single. Tilson scored on a wild pitch. Williams’ double scored Haseley. T.J. Rivera reached on an infield single. Hall then doubled in Williams, who had two hits, two runs and three RBIs. IronPigs 9-5.
Up next
RHP Jack Perkins (0-2, 4.38 ERA) faces Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RHP Clarke Schmidt (0-0, 3.00 ERA) in a 7:05 p.m. start. Saturday’s doubleheader starts at 4:05 with the resumption of Wednesday’s suspended game in the second inning. That game is nine innings. The second game will be seven innings. Sunday’s series finale is at 1:35.
Morning Call reporter Tom Housenick can be reached at 610-820-6651 or at thousenick@mcall.com
