Itsa国际传媒檚 never been a question of talent with Ladnersa国际传媒檚 James Paxton, itsa国际传媒檚 always been a question of health.

Itsa国际传媒檚 a question he hopes he doesnsa国际传媒檛 have to deal with this summer.

Now a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Paxton is continuing his big-league career despite the adversity he has faced the past few years.

At 35-years of age, it would be an easy choice for Paxton to retire and enjoy his summers with his family. According to Spotrac.com, Paxtonsa国际传媒檚 made over $48 million dollars during the course of his career, so hesa国际传媒檚 made more than enough money to live comfortably. But itsa国际传媒檚 more than just baseball sa国际传媒� itsa国际传媒檚 about challenging yourself.

sa国际传媒淲hat motivates me is my love for competing. I love to push myself to be the best I can be and Isa国际传媒檝e found that this game is a great teacher for personal growth,sa国际传媒� he said.

Now in his 11th Major League season, Paxton has managed to exceed 150 innings twice in his career. In the last three seasons, hesa国际传媒檚 made just 25 starts.

So when Monday night rolled around and he took to the mound for his Dodger debut at Chavez Ravine, needless to say he was a little amped.

sa国际传媒淵ousa国际传媒檙e kind of like showing yourself for the first time in the regular season, so you want to put your best foot forward,sa国际传媒� Paxton said.

It was a night in which Paxton didnsa国际传媒檛 have his best stuff but he found a way to pick up the win as the Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants by a score of 8-3.

It shouldnsa国际传媒檛 come as a surprise.

Paxton has been battling his entire career.

On a night when Paxton admits he was trying to find sa国际传媒榯hat gapsa国际传媒� all night long, he managed to navigate his way through the Giants lineup throwing five shutout innings, allowing five hits and four walks while striking out five.

Nursing a 3-0 lead in the top of the 5th inning, Dodger manager Dave Roberts stuck with Paxton when he had every opportunity to give him the hook.

After Nick Ahmed and Jung Hoo Lee reached base to lead off the inning for the Giants, Paxton induced a double play ball with Austin Slater at the plate.

But Paxton wasnsa国际传媒檛 out of trouble just yet.

He then walked the next two batters sa国际传媒� Jorge Soler and Mark Chapman sa国际传媒� to load the bases.

Again, Roberts elected to let Paxton find a way out of the jam rather than going to the bullpen.

The decision paid off when Wilmer Flores grounded out to second to end the threat.

sa国际传媒淗e didnsa国际传媒檛 have his best stuff but it was would you expect from James. Hesa国际传媒檚 a seasoned veteran who is going to go out there and compete and make pitches when he needs to. That last out was big,sa国际传媒� Roberts said after the game.

Getting a vote of confidence from your manager this early in the season goes a long way says Paxton.

sa国际传媒淭hat was awesome. For him to allow me to pitch in that situation was huge. To get out of that really built my confidence up. Itsa国际传媒檚 going to help me going forward knowing that I can get in those situations and get out of them. I was very inconsistent. I walked five guys and I was all over the place but I was competing as best as I could and I didnsa国际传媒檛 let off on a single pitch. And I think he saw that and really wanted to allow me to go out there and compete,sa国际传媒� said Paxton.

Hopefully the successful start is a harbinger of things to come.

The last few years have been tough for Paxton. Last year, a right knee injury in September ended his season with the Boston Red Sox. He didnsa国际传媒檛 pitch in 2022 due to a lat tear. In 2021, he made one appearance with the Mariners before having to undergo Tommy John surgery.

The good news is Paxton feels healthy and is looking forward to being part of the Dodgers.

sa国际传媒淚 feel really good and my body feels great. Nothing was hurting in my first start. It was just a matter of me trying to find my rhythm out there but Isa国际传媒檒l tell you wesa国际传媒檝e done a lot of things. My body feels good so I think the rhythm will come. I just need to get more reps. Getting in those regular season games, you have that adrenaline. Isa国际传媒檒l try to figure out my timing (and getting) my firing pins aligned but the bodysa国际传媒檚 feeling really good right now,sa国际传媒� said Paxton, who owns a 65-38 lifetime record with a career ERA of 3.67.

As for this season, Paxton is excited to be pitching for the marquee franchise in baseball that features such superstars as Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman but with it comes pressure.

sa国际传媒淭he expectation is the World Series with our team. You look at our team on paper and say, sa国际传媒榦h yeah, that team should be in the World Series.sa国际传媒� As you know, theresa国际传媒檚 a lot more that goes into it. We have to stay healthy and we have to take it one day at a time. I think if we get too far ahead of ourselves and start thinking about the World Series in April wesa国际传媒檙e going to be in trouble. You have to take it one day at a time and focus on winning that ballgame that day. And if we do that and stay focused, I think wesa国际传媒檙e going to be successful,sa国际传媒� noted Paxton.

And despite having the biggest stars in baseball, Paxton tells us that there are no divas on the ball club.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e never been a part of a team with this much star power but itsa国际传媒檚 interesting. You think that a team with this much star power there would be a lot of ego stuff going on. But with this team, I really donsa国际传媒檛 feel any of that. These guys are really down to earth. Theysa国际传媒檙e all here to play ball and theysa国际传媒檙e all here to win and they all treat everyone the same. Itsa国际传媒檚 really been a great experience,sa国际传媒� said Paxton.

Sounds like Paxton should fit in nicely with this group.

Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob sa国际传媒渢he Mojsa国际传媒� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.

READ MORE:

READ MORE: