Jurries puts his past behind him

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Before the question had been completed, it was obvious it was one James Jurries wished he'd never hear again.

Yet with irritated expressions and frustration beaming from his voice, he simply asked that the reporter and everyone else please follow his lead by kindly keeping his past in the past.

"It's behind me," Jurries said in reference to the positive steroid test that earned him a 15-game suspension last year. "It's a different year. I learned from my mistakes."

Hearing Braves general manager John Schuerholz speak glowingly of Jurries' character signals that this may have been one of the few off-the-field mistakes the 26-year-old infielder has made during his productive Minor League career.

But when the forgettable event involves steroids, it's one that most aren't apt to easily forget.

It was April 22 last year when it was announced that Jurries, who was playing for Triple-A Richmond, had tested positive for steroids. Unlike many others, who chose to place the blame elsewhere, he immediately admitted his guilt and by doing so, further proved why the Braves have great regard for him both as a baseball player and upstanding citizen.

"It didn't shock me that he admitted it," Schuerholz said. "It shocked me that he did it because his personality is such that you wouldn't expect it. He's always been a strong guy. It didn't look like he needed any enhancements."

It's been more than a year since Jurries fell victim to peer pressure and opted to use steroids while playing in the Venezuelan Winter League. Yet as he has continued to impress in his first big-league camp, there are no signs that the impressive strength he's displayed throughout his career has vanished.

"He can hit," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "He's popped the ball everywhere he's been."

Since being selected out of Tulane University in the sixth round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Jurries has proven to be an offensive force at every Minor League level. In four seasons, he's compiled a .489 slugging percentage and produced a respectable .282 batting average. Last year at Triple-A Richmond, he hit .284, produced a .537 slugging percentage and delivered a team-high 21 homers.

His performance earned him a spot on the Braves' 40-man roster and he's come to camp fighting to prove he belongs in the Majors. The strong right-hander could make the Atlanta roster as a bench player, and he also has the ability to play first base and the outfield.

"I'm not thinking that I have a job right now," Jurries said. "It's one of those things that I'm going to have to earn, and there's a handful of guys fighting for it."

There's a chance Jurries could platoon at first base with left-handed Adam LaRoche. But he must first prove a couple of things. In limited opportunities against left-handed pitchers last year, he produced just a .262 (24-for-92) batting average.

More importantly, he must prove he won't be a defensive liability. Defense has never been his strong suit. But since camp opened, he's gone to the back fields every day to work with veteran coach Bobby Dews in attempt to refine his skills.

According to Dews, Jurries has made great strides and is just as strong defensively as Robert Fick, who proved very serviceable after making the move to first base for the Braves in 2003.

"If he doesn't make [the team], it won't be because he didn't work hard at it," Dews said.

Jurries, who was Baseball America's Freshman of the Year after the 1999 collegiate season, seems to have a bright future and is fortunate to currently be surrounded by people who have chosen not to forget all of his good qualities just because of one forgettable mistake.

"To me, that whole circumstance is in our rearview mirror," Schuerholz said. "He's dealt with it very appropriately. It's not even something you blink an eye over or consider for one flash of a second. He made a mistake. He owned up to it and rectified it."