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Senior pitcher Dusty Baker's 2006 Missouri Valley Conference Honorable Mention nomination nearly cost him his arm.
At the end of the 2006 season, Baker began to feel discomfort in his throwing arm and his doctor told him he had a torn labrum in addition to a torn rotator cuff. Now, after being medically cleared to pitch for the April 7 game against Valparaiso, Baker's next step will be to pitch in a game for the first time in more than a year.
"I've been waiting on warmer weather to get into the game, but I've been throwing simulated games on the side and I feel physically ready to pitch," Baker said. "It was very frustrating for me because I had a good season the year before and I wanted to finish strong my senior year."
He was one of the first pitchers out of the bullpen in 2006 and led the SIU baseball team with six saves. In 29 appearances, the right-hander accumulated six wins with a 3.64 ERA while striking out 22.
But after the season ended, however, his pitching career came to a halt.
It wasn't the first time Baker received bad news about his arm. His freshman year at Olney Central College was cut short due to another arm injury.
Much like St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter did in 2003, Baker elected to go with Tommy John surgery to repair the damage.
After his junior season at SIU, Baker decided to go under the knife again for shoulder surgery.
He had the option of obtaining a medical redshirt, but pitching coach Tim Dixon said Baker wasn't interested.
"I don't know the whole story because I wasn't here last season, but it's been tough on him because he's a senior," Dixon said. "Redshirting wasn't an option because he's such a competitor."
While Baker is medically cleared to play, he isn't the same pitcher he was a year ago. His velocity, which was once in the low 90s, is now 85 mph.
Coach Dan Callahan said Baker is still part of the Salukis' plans this season.
"He's worked really hard with the training staff and pitching coach here and we know how bad he wants to come back," Callahan said. "Right now, we're just trying to find the right situation for him to get involved again."
matt_hartwig@dailyegyptian.com 536-3311 ext. 269
