Every time Hayden Beard threw the ball, his shoulder was partially dislocating and he never thought he'd pitch for the Canberra Cavalry again.
But three years after his second round of surgery, the Cavalry's wild thing will return to the mound in the Australian Baseball League.
Hayden Beard will be back on the mound for the Canberra Cavalry this season.Credit:Melissa Adams
It's a massive boost for the Cavalrymen less than a fortnight before the start of the season as they look to win the Claxton Shield for just the second time.
He'll slot into the starting rotation, even though he might only be able to pitch a couple of innings to start with as he looks to build his pitch count up towards the back-end of the season.
Beard originally had surgery to fix bursitis in his right shoulder, but it didn't help and the San Diego Padres let him go.
He returned to Australia for more surgery, where a bone spur was found to be causing problems.
Beard praised the same weighted-ball program – designed by former Cavalry infielder Jeremy Barnes – that helped Steven Kent get re-signed by the Atlanta Braves last year.
"Everything [in my shoulder] was pretty much torn – torn rotator cuff, torn labrum. I went to have it fixed up and when they were in there they found a massive bone spur that was sticking right into my rotator cuff every time I lifted my arm," he said.
"That's where the pain was coming from .... my shoulder was actually dislocating 7mm every time I threw a ball. A week ago I didn't think I'd be playing for the Cavs this season."
Cavalry chief executive Donn McMichael said Beard would be important for the Cavs on several levels.
Most important is the fact he can help them fill their quota of Australian starters, given both Kent and Tim Atherton will be used in the bullpen because that's the role they'll fill for Australia at next year's World Baseball Classic.
McMichael was also chasing another short stop and was in discussions with one from the independent Canadian American Association with a "power bat".
"He's a very good pitcher, he's got good heat, he's got all the tools and he's Australian. He's a Cavalry person through and through and it gives us the option of adding another Australian to the roster," McMichael said.
Beard will step aside from his role as Cavalry pitching coach as he returns to the mound instead.
He's now also helping former Cavalry outfielder Tom Vincent run Social League Baseball as they try to help grow the game in Canberra.
"It gets your feet wet and gives you the appetite for baseball and the hope is that all these players will filter through to grade competition and then head on out to the Cavs games," Beard said.
The Cavalry's season starts against reigning champions Brisbane Bandits in Brisbane on Thursday week.
David Polkinghorne covers the Canberra Raiders, local rugby league, Canberra Cavalry, racing and cycling, along with every other sport, for The Canberra Times.