Jair Jurrjens Reveals What REALLY Happened in Atlanta

Overview

Jair Jurgens, speaking in a wide-ranging interview, reflects on his life and career—especially his transition from Curaçao to Major League Baseball (MLB). He discusses the people and organizations that shaped him, how injuries and mental health challenges affected him, and he addresses PED/testosterone-related allegations. Throughout, he emphasizes empathy and responsibility rather than judgment.

Personal struggles, emotional toll, and “it affects you”

Jurgens opens by describing how difficult a period of pain and hardship was off the field. He recounts coming home crying—his wife asleep while he privately struggles—then waking up to try to act normal the next day.

He challenges the idea that people can’t tell when someone is suffering. Even when others don’t see it, he insists, it impacts you deeply.

Baseball foundation in Curaçao and why players keep coming through

Jurgens explains that Curaçao’s pipeline to baseball is fueled by intense love for the game and national pride. He describes growing up playing on harsh, rough surfaces with bad bounces, and then experiencing grass fields for the first time—something that felt worth “keeping.”

Representing Curaçao internationally becomes a major motivator, creating pressure that turns into determination. He also notes the “Curaçao wave” continues to produce later MLB players, framing his success as motivation for others on the island to reach the majors.

Dream realization: family influence and the path to the big leagues

He says his dream was planted by his father—and especially his older brother. His brother, born deaf, faced communication barriers, yet still found success despite institutional doubts. That example gave Jurgens confidence to pursue his own path.

He also highlights early influences:

• Watching primarily Braves and Cubs on TV
• Admiring Braves players like David Justice
• Learning from Curaçao/MLB trailblazers such as Andrew Jones and other native standouts who helped open doors and inspire island players

Signing and early development

Jurgens describes signing as a teenager at 17 for about a $60,000 bonus, after trying out against players who had some pro experience. Although he was initially angry, he accepted the offer and focused intensely on improving—learning from veterans at higher levels and applying offseason work to his performance.

Major influences in pro baseball: Tim Hudson, Bobby Cox, Jim Leyland, and Brian McCann

A central theme is leadership and mentorship.

Tim Hudson

Hudson’s advice, as Jurgens describes it, stressed choosing the “right person,” because the job is difficult and not everyone can sustain it.

Bobby Cox

Jurgens describes Cox as a “players’ manager,” emphasizing:

• Close-call decisions
• Loyalty to players even when outcomes aren’t ideal
• A culture of trust that helps players remain resilient

Jim Leyland and organizational philosophy

Jurgens contrasts Detroit’s more structured approach—especially during difficult seasons and rebuilding—with Atlanta’s more veteran, hands-off approach once the team is winning. He suggests team philosophy depends on whether you’re losing and need stricter structure, or winning and can trust established systems.

The Braves specifically: pitching preparation and catcher leadership

Jurgens highlights how Braves veterans prepared, including working and throwing bullpens “like art.” He notes he learned by watching (including Tom Glavine and others) and adapting to Atlanta’s pitching preparation style.

He also praises Brian McCann as a premium catcher and team leader, describing McCann’s ability to:

• Manage pitchers’ confidence
• Adjust strategy when pitches aren’t working
• Understand and work with staff personalities

Jurgens recounts McCann working with the whole pitching staff early—studying pitch movement and preparing during live looks—helping build trust between catcher and pitcher.

On-field excellence and 2011: peak performance while not fully healthy

Jurgens describes 2011 as a breakout, all-star caliber year—being “in the zone.” Despite recovering from knee/meniscus issues, he produced exceptional results through precision and confidence in pitching locations and sequencing. He describes the mental side as almost effortless, like he wasn’t under pressure, and credits catcher support, the pitching duo relationship, and enough run support from the offense.

He also recalls a rare struggle game (against the Mets) where he was removed after giving up runs in a close contest—but says that after that, he limited damage more consistently.

Injury setbacks and the toll of career instability

Over time, injuries mounted. Key moments include:

• By 2012: he was optioned to Triple-A due to injury issues. He says he didn’t want to “milk” his condition and worked hard to return, while feeling the organization’s handling wasn’t ideal.
• He suggests that doctors/rehab and organizational decisions didn’t always align with what players expected.
• He describes frustration with being interviewed while in Triple-A and feeling that trade-offs weren’t handled with respect.

He later references a stress-heavy period during a stint abroad (Taiwan/Netherlands tournament), influenced by major personal losses. He says it harmed sleep, weight, and overall health. He recounts lab findings related to stress and organ function, and says supplementation helped him regain mood, restore normal bodily function, and rest.

PEDs/testosterone suspension: taking responsibility, rejecting the “perform for PEDs” narrative

A major part of the interview addresses his suspension tied to testosterone/DHA-type rules (as described in the subtitles).

Jurgens says:

• He understands people judge, but argues motives and circumstances are often misunderstood.
• He claims he did not use the substance to enhance performance; instead, he used it to “become himself back” after severe stress and losses—framing it as recovery rather than cheating.
• He acknowledges he still got caught and accepts responsibility.
• He also suggests some players may take risks and never get caught, implying luck can play a role.

He emphasizes a broader moral lesson: if you sign a multi-year contract, don’t “give the money back,” work hard, and—according to his view—judge less because you don’t know the full story behind someone’s decisions.

On leadership and generational transition in Atlanta

Jurgens discusses the Braves’ shift from older stars (Chipper Jones, Brian McCann) into a younger wave (Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward, Craig Kimbrel, and others). He says the transition brought hope and excitement, but the team didn’t stay healthy and play together long enough to fully deliver a playoff/championship run.

Curaçao pride and mentorship after the fact

Later in the interview, Jurgens frames his giving-back attitude as helping other island players reach MLB. He even describes picking up new prospects on their debut day and making breakfast. He positions this as strengthening Curaçao’s future through more MLB representation and more opportunity for the whole island.

The “Cutdown” and word association bits

He attempts to list as many MLB players from Curaçao as possible in a timed segment. Many names are mispronounced or uncertain due to auto-generated subtitles, but the takeaway is that Curaçao has a substantial MLB presence.

Presenters / contributors (as named in the subtitles)

• Liam Skivington (presenter/host)
• Jair Jurgens (guest/contributor)