ARLINGTON, TEXAS — Jonathan Broxton rarely smiles and often mumbles when speaking to reporters. That wasn't the case Saturday.
The Dodgers' soft-spoken closer was beaming as he recounted how he returned to Georgia on Thursday for the birth of his first child, Jonathan Brooks.
Better than saving a game?
"Yeah, yeah," said Broxton, who missed the Dodgers' series opener in Texas on Friday.
Broxton said his wife, Elizabeth, called him Thursday at 3:30 a.m. to tell him that her water had broken.
Broxton boarded an early-morning flight out of Los Angeles. When he landed in Atlanta that afternoon, his wife was well into her labor.
Problem: He was a three-hour drive away from their hometown of Waynesboro.
When Broxton was halfway there, his wife was dilated 8 centimeters.
"She only had two more to go," Broxton said. "I was like, 'There's no way I'm making it.' "
However, the doctors did what they could to postpone the birth, and Broxton was by Elizabeth's side at around 5:45 p.m.
Jonathan Brooks was born at 6:11 p.m.
"Perfect," the new father said.
Broxton was still smiling Saturday.
"It was two days ago," he said. "You should have that glow for a while."
The birth happened earlier than expected. Elizabeth had scheduled a cesarean birth for July 2.
Told he wouldn't have to miss Manny Ramirez's anticipated return to the Dodgers on July 3, Broxton smiled and said, "Yeah, exactly."
Broxton said he would return to Georgia today after the Dodgers end their series in Texas and spend the off-day Monday with his wife and son. He said he would rejoin the club Tuesday, when it opens a three-game series against Oakland.
"Everything's falling into place right now," Broxton said.
Broxton has been dominant in his first season as the Dodgers' full-time closer. He saved his 15th game Saturday and lowered his earned-run average to 1.45. He's also 6-0.
Broxton, who was eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter, will earn $1.825 million this season.
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Different cultures
Hiroki Kuroda said that in Japan, it's rare for players to take days off for the birth of a child.
Kuroda said he was with his wife on the day she gave birth to their second daughter but had to leave the hospital before she was born because he had to start that day for the Hiroshima Carp. Kuroda said it's customary for players to play even if they lost a parent.
