PITTSBURGH - Jason Kendall is attempting a comeback.
He's not taking an easy path, either: Kendall has signed on with the Kansas City Royals' Class AA team to see if he can make it back.
Kendall hasn't played since he suited up for the Royals in 2010. He's been sidelined by shoulder injuries that required surgery.
So now, weeks after his 38th birthday, he's testing himself in the Texas League. A guy who used to make nearly $13 million in one season is riding buses through the hottest part of summer in one of the country's hottest regions.
He must be committed to the comeback.
"He just thought he'd give it one more try," Royals manager Ned Yost told the Kansas City Star. "He doesn't know if he can do it. He's been working hard. He feels good."
Kendall is a baseball lifer who grew up around the game and signed with the Pirates when they drafted him out of high school in 1992. Until this year, he hadn't played an inning in the minor leagues since 1995.
Kendall's career has taken some significant twists and turns since the Pirates traded him to Oakland in advance of the 2005 season.
He got married and became a father. The marriage fell apart under volatile circumstances. There was an estrangement from his parents.
After Oakland, Kendall also spent time with the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs and Royals.
His career average is .288. He's fifth on the all-time list of games played as a catcher. He trails No. 4 Gary Carter by 31 games.
Kendall is a student of baseball history and he's probably holding out hope that he'll get some consideration when his name appears on the Hall of Fame ballot. He has 2,195 career hits.
It could be that Kendall is just having a hard time coming to grips with the idea that he's almost done with baseball.
Whatever the case, he's giving it one more shot, and doing it the hard way.
Lacee sighting
Lacee Collins was talking with management at sports talk radio station KDKA-FM (93.7 The Fan) last week.
She was dropped by Root Sports last month.
Mehno can be reached at johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com
