Chiropractor Jarrett Grunstein helps ease pain of spring training for Blue Jays in Dunedin

DUNEDIN — No fewer than three players were waiting for Jarrett Grunstein when he stepped inside the Toronto Blue Jays' training facility Thursday morning.

"They always know when I'm coming," said Grunstein, 34.

Especially the ones with sore backs.

A consulting chiropractor for the organization, Grunstein plays a valuable role. Two or three times a week during spring training, he provides spinal evaluations and adjustments to as many as 15 Blue Jays per visit.

"I love it," said Toronto pitcher Shawn Camp. "Pitching is a real violent thing, so it's good to get your neck and back adjusted. It releases a lot of pressure."

Most players suffer from pain and/or stiffness in the lower back, mid back and neck. After they plop down on his chiropractic table, it usually takes Grunstein only a few minutes to figure out what's wrong with them and what needs to be done to help.

Then the adjusting begins.

"Those last about 10 minutes," said Grunstein, who lives in Palm Harbor and owns and operates Clearwater Chiropractic Center.

For Grunstein, the role has its perks.

For starters, it impresses his friends and his non-athlete patients.

"They're usually like, 'How cool,' " Grunstein said.

Dr. Michael O'Neal, a former Blue Jays physician, played a vital role in Grunstein's landing the gig. The two met three years ago at a networking event and quickly bonded. Before long, O'Neal had referred a few current and former NFL players to Grunstein.

In February 2008, O'Neal called about a new opportunity, this one with the Blue Jays.

"He said he'd spoken to the team about trying me out," Grunstein said. "I was caught completely off guard."

The Blue Jays offered Grunstein a one-year trial during spring training. Things went so well that the team invited him back this year and gave him an additional duty. He now also treats the Dunedin Blue Jays, the organization's Class A squad.

"I've worked on pretty much everyone," Grunstein said. "It's an enormous thrill when someone performs well after you've helped them."

Grunstein, a New Jersey native, wasn't much of a baseball fan before working with the Blue Jays. Because of that, he felt a little out of place the first time he arrived at Dunedin Stadium.

"I didn't even know who any of the players were," Grunstein said.

Today, he knows them all by name.

And they know him, which was evident Thursday.

"I like him," Camp said. "He's got a good relationship with us."

Keith Niebuhr can be reached at kniebuhr@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4156.