Three of the Rockies’ current starters — Kyle Freeland, German Marquez and Antonio Senzatela — pitched here last season, while Bettis was going 14-8 in the majors, finally establishing himself in his seventh professional season.

Yet he was thrilled to be in Hartford, back among the prospects.

Bettis bought food for all of them from an upscale Italian restaurant. He insisted on staying through entire games, long after his work was done. And he competed hard: When he fooled his final hitter on Tuesday, inducing a checked swing with a biting two-strike slider, Bettis pleaded with the umpire — unsuccessfully — for a strikeout.

“I feel like I’m enjoying baseball much more than what I had been before,” said Bettis, who will pitch for Class AAA Albuquerque on Sunday. “And really, it’s just because of having to go through everything. I kind of found out where baseball stood.”

It is only so challenging to face the Bowie Baysox, the Iowa Cubs or, in time, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bettis, a second-round draft choice in 2010 from Texas Tech, has dealt with that for years. The off-season brought two new experiences, both with extraordinary emotional impact: first-time fatherhood, and cancer.

Chad met Kristina four years ago, at spring training in Arizona, where she had moved from Michigan — without ever visiting the state — to be a teacher. On their first date, he cooked barbecue ribs dripping with sauce, which still makes her laugh. At her bridal shower, Kristina quizzed her friends on what she loved most about Chad. They guessed correctly: his heart.

That has shown itself in Bettis’s eagerness to share his story. He has befriended and encouraged Pittsburgh starter Jameson Taillon, who had surgery for testicular cancer in May and returned to the Pirates without needing chemotherapy. Bettis has also become involved with the Testicular Cancer Society. The group’s founder, Mike Craycraft, has told Bettis to focus on his pitching — their work together can come later. But Bettis has been outspoken in raising awareness about his illness, the most common form of cancer for males ages 15 to 35.

“Especially in the sports arena, there are a lot of guys in that age group watching games and following players,” Craycraft said. “To see someone talk about it can increase early detection, and to see someone going through it, and coming back so quickly, is highly inspirational.”

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Three of the Rockies’ current starters — Kyle Freeland, German Marquez and Antonio Senzatela — pitched here last season, while Bettis was going 14-8 in the majors, finally establishing himself in his seventh professional season.

Yet he was thrilled to be in Hartford, back among the prospects.

Bettis bought food for all of them from an upscale Italian restaurant. He insisted on staying through entire games, long after his work was done. And he competed hard: When he fooled his final hitter on Tuesday, inducing a checked swing with a biting two-strike slider, Bettis pleaded with the umpire — unsuccessfully — for a strikeout.

“I feel like I’m enjoying baseball much more than what I had been before,” said Bettis, who will pitch for Class AAA Albuquerque on Sunday. “And really, it’s just because of having to go through everything. I kind of found out where baseball stood.”

It is only so challenging to face the Bowie Baysox, the Iowa Cubs or, in time, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bettis, a second-round draft choice in 2010 from Texas Tech, has dealt with that for years. The off-season brought two new experiences, both with extraordinary emotional impact: first-time fatherhood, and cancer.

Chad met Kristina four years ago, at spring training in Arizona, where she had moved from Michigan — without ever visiting the state — to be a teacher. On their first date, he cooked barbecue ribs dripping with sauce, which still makes her laugh. At her bridal shower, Kristina quizzed her friends on what she loved most about Chad. They guessed correctly: his heart.

That has shown itself in Bettis’s eagerness to share his story. He has befriended and encouraged Pittsburgh starter Jameson Taillon, who had surgery for testicular cancer in May and returned to the Pirates without needing chemotherapy. Bettis has also become involved with the Testicular Cancer Society. The group’s founder, Mike Craycraft, has told Bettis to focus on his pitching — their work together can come later. But Bettis has been outspoken in raising awareness about his illness, the most common form of cancer for males ages 15 to 35.

“Especially in the sports arena, there are a lot of guys in that age group watching games and following players,” Craycraft said. “To see someone talk about it can increase early detection, and to see someone going through it, and coming back so quickly, is highly inspirational.”

Continue reading the main story