Beau Hale Article

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Baysox: For Hale, no farewell yet in Bowie

BOWIE -- If, as expected, 27-year-old Beau Hale starts this afternoon for the Bowie Baysox against the New Britain Rock Cats, his career will have come full-circle.

Four years ago, Hale was on the fast track to Camden Yards. He was the Baltimore Orioles' top draft choice in 2001, signing for a bonus of $2.25 million. He'd had his ups and downs on his way up the organizational ladder, but had shown enough promise to be considered one of the club's top prospects.

He arrived at Double-A Bowie for the first time in August of 2002. He made only two starts for the Baysox before developing a shoulder problem that sidelined him for most of the final month of the season. But those two starts (2-0 record, 0.84 ERA) suggested it was just a matter of time before he got promoted Baltimore.

He's still waiting. That shoulder problem in 2002 turned out to be a torn rotator cuff, which required surgery. Six months after the operation, Hale still couldn't lift his arm over his head. A second operation was needed because the stitches didn't dissolve like they were supposed to and Hale also developed scar tissue in the joint.

The two surgeries and the accompanying rehabilitation cost Hale two years out of his career. He didn't pitch again until last season, when he made 22 appearances for Class A Frederick. A couple of injuries and player moves at the end of last month brought him back up to Bowie, where he'll try to continue his climb to the major leagues.

"It's sink or swim time for me," he said. "I've got to make it happen."

Since returning to the mound last year, Hale and the Orioles' minor league staff have seen enough to be encouraged. He finished just 1-2 at Frederick last year with a 5.23 ERA. But his last five appearances were all starts, and in that span he went 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA. He was 2-0 in 12 appearances with a 3.80 ERA at Frederick to start this season and is 0-1 with a 3.88 ERA in four outings so far for Bowie.

"My biggest thing was trying to make the best of a bad situation," Hale said.

"He's just been a survivor," said Bowie pitching coach Scott McGregor, who served in the same capacity for Frederick last season. "Last year, he was very good. He's been off and on this year. But he knows what he's doing out there. He's a real competitor."

Ironically, Hale's arm problems have speeded his development in one respect. He's unable to throw with the same velocity he had in his younger years (he's still consistently at 89-90 mph, occasionally reaching 93-94). As a result, he's had to learn how to be more of a pitcher - a transformation most young flamethrowers don't have to attempt until they turn 30 or so.

"My fastball isn't what it was before the (2001) draft, but I'll take it," Hale said. "Now, it's a matter of fine-tuning my command."

Had Hale missed any more time, he would have had to seriously consider giving up the game. He's set financially because of his signing bonus, but was afriad he'd be plagued by doubts for the rest of his life if he didn't stick with it..

"I didn't want to wake up and look in the mirror while shaving one day at age 35 and say, 'What if?' " Hale said.

Coping and hoping continue to be part of his professional plans.

"He's a very hard worker," Bowie manager Don Werner said. "And you really root for the guy with all the the adversity he's faced."