Hollyberry Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 July 3rd 2007 SAN DIEGO: Former Marlins first-round draft pick Jeff Allison is at the team's minor league complex at Jupiter and is poised for a return to professional baseball. Allison, a right-hander out of Peabody, Mass., who the Marlins selected 16th overall in 2003, has been removed from the team's restricted list and placed on Class A Greensboro's temporary inactive list. He likely will resume his professional career with the Gulf Coast League Marlins. Two seasons ago Allison overcame a heroin addiction and dependence on OxyContin long enough to make 17 starts for Greensboro. The following spring, Allison left minor league camp and has not pitched professionally since. Initially signed to a $1.85 million bonus, Allison was arrested at Greensboro in October, charged with felony possession of heroin and possession of a stolen vehicle. He failed to appear at a preliminary Dec. 28 hearing. In a June 4 article, Allison told the Boston Herald legal issues precluded him from commenting on his October arrest. He did say: "I was just in a bad spot. Things weren't going well and it's something I don't look at anymore. It's motivation for me not to go back to that point in my life." The Eagle-Tribune of Lawrence, Mass. last month reported Allison returned home and was working at Extra Innings, a local baseball training center, giving pitching lessons to kids. That's quite a turnaround for Allison, who 10 months ago was found unconscious after a second heroin overdose. "When I get the chance to go back down [to Florida], I think they will be surprised at how I look," Allison told The Eagle-Tribune, adding at the time he had been clean for six months. "I have to prove to them daily that I want to stay clean and live a normal life and be in the organization. I'll do everything I have to do and work as hard as I can ? whatever it takes at this point to keep me on the right path." http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basebal...-sports-marlins Great to see he is trying to get his life together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramp Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 we'll see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrAndMrsFish Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 woah intresting where are they now type of story Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy42Jack0 Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 awesome to hear...i really hope he gets his life on track on first and then worry about baseball second though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hollyberry Posted July 3, 2007 Author Share Posted July 3, 2007 we'll see Yep, but its a step in the right direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FishFanInPA Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 He could very easily fall off the wagon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hollyberry Posted July 3, 2007 Author Share Posted July 3, 2007 I really hope there are people up in Jupiter who are keeping an eye out on him. Hopefully someone up there is leading him in the right direction. I know I am putting the cart before the horse but it says that he will likey start his career back with the GC Marlins. Could he start pitching sometime this year or next year? I am not sure how far off he is because the article doesnt mention this. Well, this all depends on if he stays out of trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nny Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 I really hope there are people up in Jupiter who are keeping an eye out on him. Hopefully someone up there is leading him in the right direction.  Yeah. You can't just be "cured" of heroin dependancy. If the Marlins aren't taking care of him, he can fall off again real quickly... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauer7 Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 good to hear. hopefully he makes all the right decisions from now on....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Rob Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 Hopefully he follows Josh Hamilton's lead and really makes a change in his life. I had already presumed his life over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prinmemito Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 When I read "positive" and "Jeff Allison" in the same sentence I thought it was going to be about how he tested positive for drug use once again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buccanes Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 team should call josh hamilton to talk to him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babaru Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 How old is he now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 22ish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spork5812 Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 I hope he can get it together this time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 Maybe the Reds will take him in the rule 5 draft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 Allison isnt eligable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSwift25 Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 The amazing thing is, he's still under 23. If he can regain even 3/4 of what he was meant to be, that's huge. Great news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hollyberry Posted July 4, 2007 Author Share Posted July 4, 2007 Anyone have any idea how long it might be until Jeff sees some action with the GC Marlins? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CYmarlins Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 he's still young so he has time to turn it all around. i heard he was one heck of a prospect. i hope he turns it around so we can see him up in the Big's one of these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramp Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 Anyone have any idea how long it might be until Jeff sees some action with the GC Marlins? totally depends what kind of shape he is in, and how much throwing he has been doing the passed few weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Festa Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 I give him three months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doakle Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 Even if he just manages to have a minor league career for a few years, good for him. If they just use him as a reliever that might be helpful to keep him busy each day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 Allison isnt eligable. It was a joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strandedx02 Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 I hope he's able to stay in control of his problems...it'll take some help, obviously. Maybe seeing Hamilton in the major leagues gave him some inspiration that he can still turn things around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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