Jeff Desjardins

Jeff DesjardinsCLIPPERS
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Jeff Desjardins
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Desjardins begins his ninth season in the Cleveland Indians organization.He spent the last two seasons in Buffalo.He is a certified trainer and also a certified strength and conditioning specialist.Desjardins is a graduate of Plymouth State College in Plymouth, NH.
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Jeff DesjardinsTrainer

Jeff DesjardinsTrainer

Jeff Desjardins - Trainer

14 Sep 2005 at 5:58am Jeff Desjardins played at Hadlock Field with his Gorham High teammates long before the Sea Dogs arrived.Tuesday night he was back in town as the Akron Aeros' trainer.

Jeff Desjardins played at Hadlock Field with his Gorham High teammates long before the Sea Dogs arrived.Tuesday night he was back in town as the Akron Aeros' trainer.
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Jeff Desjardins walked through the gate behind first base and strolled across the green grass of Hadlock Field toward the visitors dugout.He wore a black shirt with khaki pants, held a cup of coffee in one hand and a clean white towel in the other.Dark sunglasses hid the expression in his eyes, but the embarrassed grin betrayed his thoughts.

Aww, knock it off.I'm a trainer for crying out loud.

The whooping and hollering continued, however, following Desjardins all the way to the dugout as a few Akron Aeros craned their purple-capped heads to see who was making all the noise.More than a dozen folks from Gorham had come to cheer one of their own, a young man who had played at Hadlock before the Sea Dogs ever came to town, and now keeps watch on the only team standing in the way of the Sea Dogs' first Eastern League championship.

Desjardins, 32, is the Akron trainer.This is his fifth year in professional baseball, all with the Cleveland Indians organization.He spent two seasons in the Appalachian League in Burlington, N.C., and one each in the South Atlantic League in Eastlake, Ohio, and the Carolina League in Kinston, N.C.

"He's outstanding," said Akron Manager Torey Lovullo, who also worked with Desjardins last year in Class A. "He just has a passion for his job.
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Desjardins is thankful for the opportunity.A burly guy who in street clothes could pass for a player, Desjardins grew up around baseball.His father, Phil, has coached at Westbrook College, St. Joseph's College and, for the past 10 years, Southern Maine Community College.

Jeff played third base and catcher at Gorham High, and realized his career might not extend to college.But he had seen Peter Wheeler, then a trainer at St. Joe's, in action.

"He said, 'You know, Dad.I think I'd like to do that,' " said Phil, wearing an Aeros shirt and hat.

So Jeff went to Wheeler's alma mater, Plymouth State.Upon graduating in 1995, he was hired by Dover (N.H.) High and remained there happily until 2001.

"I was comfortable where I was," he said."I thoroughly enjoyed working with the kids at the high school.But I always wanted to try this."

A Dover football coach's friendship with Cleveland's farm director opened the door, and Desjardins impressed in a phone interview and subsequent visit to Cleveland.Desjardins understands the hours required.Arrive by noon and remain long after midnight.At lower levels he washed players' laundry and arranged their dentist's and doctor's appointments.

Like every player he helps stretch or ice or bandage or tape, Desjardins hopes to reach the major leagues.He knows there is precedent.
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The path is a long one, much longer than the 14-hour bus trip between Akron and Portland, but Desjardins is enjoying the ride.Well, except for the whooping and hollering.That, he could do without.

Jeff Desjardins 330.375.1707

Jeff Desjardins - Trainer