Colome's wounds all on psyche

Coaches, teammates try to comfort Rays pitcher haunted by fatal crash.

By KEVIN KELLY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 17, 2003

[Times photo: James Borchuck] Jesus Colome appears physically fine after the Feb. 6 crash that killed three in the Dominican Republic. His mind-set is another matter.

Jesus Colome, the 25-year-old Tampa Bay reliever blessed with a right arm capable of throwing fastballs so hard they hiss, arrived at the Ray Naimoli complex Sunday with far greater concerns and emotions.

"These were some of the worst days of my life," he said through an interpreter. "I've never been involved with anything like this. I don't feel very well."

Colome was driving a sports utility vehicle Feb. 6 when it collided with a car carrying three women on a highway outside San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic.

Altagracia Ortega, 54, 23-year-old daughter Alexandra Donator and another passenger, 20-year-old Erminia Ovalle, died from injuries sustained in the crash. Colome and two others in the car he was driving sustained minor injuries.

"I've been very sentimental, especially to the family," Colome said. "They'll probably no longer look at me as a professional ballplayer. I feel very bad."

Juan Dolio police Sgt. Major Fernando Contreras told the Times last week that Colome has been cleared of wrongdoing and that his only legal issues stem from not having a Dominican Republic driver's license.

"The investigation is closed," Colome said. "But I do need to wait. It might be a year or two that goes by before they need to call me again. But for now it is closed."

He has not spoken with any members of the affected families but plans to and offer his assistance.

"I don't think it's a good time right now because they're still going through a lot of pain," he said. "I'm going to let some time go by, and when I go back I'm going to try and help them with whatever they need."

Officials, coaches and teammates are offering what support they can.

Manager Lou Piniella met with the pitcher before Sunday's workout, as did pitching coach Chris Bosio, who told Colome he should consider the team as a family to lean on.

Teammates greeted him with welcoming handshakes and pats on the back after he threw off the mound or milled about inside the clubhouse.

"We greeted him and told him we're so glad he's safe," catcher Toby Hall said. "I can't put myself in his shoes, but you try to separate things when you're on the field. Sometimes you can't."

Results from an MRI performed on Colome last week showed no evidence of injury, but the Rays have scheduled him for a bone scan in the coming days.

"No, I don't think so," Colome said when asked if anything will limit him physically. "It would be more emotional problems than physical."

The Rays have an employee assistance program that includes confidential counseling and will monitor Colome's emotional status. Help will be available if he requests.

"At this point I don't know (if I will need counseling) because I don't feel well," he said. "Maybe after time goes by I'll see if I need it and get it."

Colome appeared in 32 games for the Rays last season and struggled much of the time, compiling a 2-7 record with an 8.27 ERA in 411/3 innings. He was optioned to Triple-A Durham twice and went 2-2 with a 2.17 ERA and one save for the International League champion Bulls.

Colome pitched for Estrellas Del Oriente in the Dominican winter league this offseason, and the departure of closer Esteban Yan during the offseason could push him into a more prominent role in the Rays bullpen.

But for now, all anybody is concerned with is his well-being.

"I told him that sometimes we don't understand why things happen," Piniella said. "I told him to try and get it out of his mind as much as possible and told him that we're thinking about him.

"Working as hard as possible could be the best remedy of all."