Souza plays hero where career almost ended

It’s been 27 months since Steven Souza Jr., then with the D-backs, was carried off the field in Arizona.

He had just collapsed after stepping awkwardly on home plate during a preseason exhibition game at Chase Field and was writhing in pain. The injury ravaged his knee, changed the course of his career and put his future in doubt.

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Souza would never suit up for the D-backs again, and some wondered whether he would ever wear another big league uniform. But the outfielder remained resolute. He didn’t quit in 2019 when he watched the games from the Arizona dugout in crutches, and he never gave up in the uncertain seasons that followed.

On Friday, the Dodgers were rewarded by the veteran’s perseverance.

Souza’s solo home run in the top of the eighth inning highlighted a three-run inning that proved to be the difference in the Dodgers’ 3-0 victory against the D-backs at Chase Field.

This time, Souza floated back to the dugout with a measure of redemption and an ear-to-ear smile. The ghosts of Chase Field had finally been exorcised.

“Anytime you play old teams, it's fun to play against and do well against them,” Souza said. “Honestly, the last moment that I had here wasn't a great one, so I was more fired up that I could erase that, put that really in the past and celebrate this one.”

Following his time with the D-backs, Souza spent eight months with the Cubs' organization in 2020. The Astros signed him in February and designated him for assignment two months later. He signed a Minor League deal with the Dodgers in April and was called up Wednesday. Earlier this week, the veteran said the Dodgers threw him a “raft” that helped save his career.

“I’ve followed Steven for years and always admired the way he played from the other side,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “The injury bug has certainly got him, and especially here [Arizona], there have been a couple of things that I really remember. So, for him to come back here and hit a homer, a go-ahead homer, a game-winning homer, I just can’t even imagine the emotion for him and his family. I’m really excited he’s part of the organization."

Souza’s triumphant return was the story of the night, but it was Trevor Bauer that set the stage for the heroics. The Dodgers starter was locked in, mixed in all of his pitches, and allowed only three hits in seven scoreless innings. He walked three and struck out eight while also varying tempo and rhythm.

“It's always a cat-and-mouse game,” Bauer said. “Last year, we never really got to the point in the season where hitters were making adjustments and game-planning [because of the short season]. But this year, obviously, we're going to get there. I’m mixing in more two-seams and mixing in more changeups, so it’s harder to game-plan against me and harder to zero in on what exactly I’m doing.”

As for Souza, any doubts about his reconstructed knee were erased in the seventh inning when he made a spectacular sliding catch down the right field line in foul territory. It was quite a play, especially when you consider that Souza couldn’t even walk off on his own power the last time he set foot on the playing field at Chase.

“I was in a good position to make a play on it, and I knew it was going to be close,” he said. “I took my eye off the ball for a second to check where the wall was because I didn't want to catch and go into the wall. I felt like I was running too fast. So, I slid and just kind of reached out and hope it didn't hit the wall. And luckily, it fell in my glove.”

After the game, Souza admitted he almost suffered another mishap on the bases at Chase Field. But this was one that made him chuckle.

“Well, I almost missed first base, and I don’t think I’ve ever done that in my career,” he said. “I looked into the dugout and the boys were so fired up and I was so fired up with them. Luckily, I touched first.”