Six years ago, Beau Hale was a hard-throwing right-hander with enough potential that the Baltimore Orioles selected him as the 14th player overall in the 2000 amateur draft.
Today, the former University of Texas star is hanging one for one more chance at making it to the major leagues as a 27-year-old pitcher for the Single-A Frederick Keys. Hale is willing to do whatever is asked of him as he earned the first save of his professional career last Tuesday against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
Hale said he is just glad to be pitching in a meaningful game again after missing the entire 2003 and 2004 seasons while recovering from shoulder surgery. He went 1-2 with a 5.23 ERA in 22 appearances in 2005. This year, he is 2-0 with a 3.80 ERA and one save in 12 games.
“Getting hurt is one thing, but it?s even worse when you think surgery will fix it and it doesn?t,” said Hale, before a recent game in Frederick. “It?s especially tough to miss two and a half years when it?s supposed to be part of your prime.”
Just stepping on the mound again in a competitive environment was Hale?s biggest accomplishment last year. This season, Hale said, his goal is to be a productive team member team and work toward getting to the Major Leagues.
Keys? pitching coach Blaine Beatty said Hale is an extraordinary individual to remain positive despite all of the injuries and obstacles he?s faced in his career.
“He?s been put in a situation where he?s faced a lot of adversities and persevered through them all,” he said.
Currently, Hale?s fastball reaches 91-93 mph, compared to the 94-96 mph he reached coming out of college. Still, he refuses to be bitter about the injuries and is appreciative that the Orioles continue to have faith in him.
“Beau has a bulldog mentality,” said Dave Stockstill, the director of minor league operations for the Orioles. “It?s unfortunate he?s had the injuries because he has the mental makeup to be a great pitcher. Right now, we want to take it slow with Beau and help him pitch on a consistent basis. Once we do that, we?ll take a closer look at what role works best for him.”
THE HALE FILE
Born: Dec. 1, 1978
Hometown: Mauriceville, Texas
College: University of Texas
Did you know? Hale missed the entire 2003 and 2004 seasons after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn glenoid labrum in his shoulder ? He advanced to Double-A Bowie twice in his career, going 1-5 with a 5.11 ERA in 2001 and 2-0 with a 0.84 ERA in 2002 ? He went 12-6 with a 3.10 ERA and 129 strikeouts in his junior year at Texas in 2000 ? Also in 2000, Hale was one of five finalists for the Golden Spikes award, given annuallyto the nation? top amateur player.
