Strength of Will Rhymes

Will Rhymes post-game interview at NBT Bank Stadium

By Ogo Sylla

There’s something to be said about age and maturity and how they allow professional players to take that step back and analyze both themselves and their surroundings better. Will Rhymes, the Syracuse infielder, exemplified this perfectly post-match of the first of the Syracuse Chiefs’ doubleheader on August 6^th.

The Chiefs lost 7-6 to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, completing their suspended game from July 12^th, at NBT Bank stadium. Despite the loss, Rhymes’ objectivity and attitude really came to the fore when he talked to the press post-match.

In the last few years, Rhymes has moved around a lot of teams as well as he has moved from being a mainstay at certain positions to more of a utility player.

After making his major league debut for the Detroit Tigers in 2010, he was released a year later following a Twitter row and joined the Tampa Bay Rays. Things didn’t improve much however as four months later, he suffered a freak injury to his forearm while facing Red Sox pitcher Franklin Morales. Despite the on-field medical examination, he was unable to finish the game and subsequently fainted. Following his recovery, he joined the Washington Nationals in November of 2012, and is today with the Chiefs.

These tumultuous last couple years have had a sobering effect on Rhymes. He showcased this well in his response to finding out that he would be sitting out the next game – also because he was a designated hitter for that game­ – despite his eight-game hitting streak. “We got a lot of guys who need to play,” said Rhymes, “I don’t get mad when I don’t play these days. My whole body can use the rest.”

And so, at the ripe old age of 30, Rhymes tries to make himself a positive influence in the dressing room and not kick up a fuss whenever he’s not playing. It’s the kind of attitude that coaches definitely appreciate in players. Often, it’s not managing the star players of a team that is hardest but managing the ones on the bench who don’t get to see as much playing time.

In fact, his preparation routine is a great example of all this. Rhymes described his rather casual routine of how he stays focused when on the bench as he prepares himself to go in if needed. “In an American League game like tonight, there won’t be too much pinch hitting, so I’ll be in the club house eating,” said Rhymes, “come out to watch some baseball, go back in to get some food; just hang out.” He added that he’d only start warming up in and around the ninth inning, and maybe pinch hit if called upon.

Rhymes is a great teammate indeed, something that’s always invaluable within any team that seeks success. With his experience, Rhymes is able to massively contribute, even if it is less so on the field today.

His humility, despite being one of the few to have been in the Major Leagues, is another trait that shows him as the great teammate and positive dressing room influence he is. “There’s a lot more guys with a lot more [Major League service] time than I have,” said Rhymes, “while I’m the oldest guy here … I don’t think people look up to me in that sense but I try to help guys out if I can and lead by example whenever I’m called.”