Sabathia: Rehab has changed my personality
New York Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia says he's a changed man after spending time in rehab battling an addiction to alcohol, an ordeal that caused him to miss the last month of the 2015 season including a one-game playoff loss to the Houston Astros.
"It's in the early stages. I will always be in recovery," Sabathia explained of his addiction to George A. King III of the New York Post. "I have the support of my family and my team. I feel pretty good where I'm at. I have a sponsor, he is a great guy and helps out a lot. From (Brian) Cashman, the Steinbrenners, Joe (Girardi) and my teammates, they have been 100 percent behind me.
"The biggest thing is to get help. People have seen my personality change."
Sabathia last pitched for the Yankees on Oct. 1, checking himself into an alcohol rehabilitation center on Oct. 5. He would later say he had no other option than to enter rehab to seek treatment.
''I know it was a bad time of the season, but there was no other option for me but to get help," he said in November. "And I understand where, you know, fans would be upset and people don't understand, but it's a disease.''
The rehab treatments are going well for the 35-year-old former Cy Young winner, who is staying in shape and is expected to fill one of the Yankees' spots in their starting rotation next season.
"I am light years ahead," Sabathia said of his offseason workout program. "I never stop throwing."
Sabathia made 29 starts for the Yankees last season, posting a 4.73 ERA and 1.42 WHIP across 167 1/3 innings of work.