ARLINGTON -- Hanging in Josh Smith's locker sat what looked to be a makeshift hospital gown with a “SMITH 8” on the back to appear like it was a jersey.
It was a needed picture of levity for Smith, who has just rejoined the club after a bout of viral meningitis that landed him in the hospital for over a week. According to the Center for Disease Control, viral meningitis is the “inflammation [swelling] of the protective lining of the brain and spinal cord that can be caused by a viral infection.”
“I went into the hospital, I think it was 15 days ago now,” Smith said. “A couple days before that, I was having some symptoms, but didn't really pay much attention to them. I woke up that Wednesday morning, and I called my dad, I called Lucky [head trainer Matt Lucero], called my dad and they were first like, ‘Dude you need to go to the hospital just to get checked out.’ I thought I was being dramatic, but it ended up being that, so.”
Even before the meningitis diagnosis, Smith was already on the injured list with a pair of other injuries: a glute strain that was mostly healed and left wrist inflammation that cropped up during his rehab for the first injury.
“I kinda forgot about that,” Smith joked.
The second baseman did begin some light workouts and jogging on Thursday while he hopes the return to play process can be as smooth as possible.
“I'm sure it's probably uncharted waters,” Smith said. “I would imagine they're gonna let me just dictate how I feel and how I'm responding to certain things. I haven't done much over two weeks, so who knows if it'll take me a little while to bounce back. I'm hoping it can be sooner rather than later. Obviously, you want to get in there, but also want to be smart about it.”