It doesn’t matter that former Terrapin pitcher Casey Baron was selected in the 34th round of this year’s Major League Baseball draft, according to his rookie league coach with the Helena Brewers, Jeff Isom.
It’s not important that 1,027 amateur players were selected before Baron or even that Milwaukee selected 14 other pitchers before Baron.
All that matters to Isom is Baron’s performance on the field.
“As long as they have a uniform on, they have the same opportunity as anybody else,” Isom said. “He comes in and does well and opens some eyes up, he becomes a prospect. That’s the way we work in this organization.”
Therein lies another problem for the pitcher who anchored the Terps’ staff as a senior this season with 4-5 record and 4.06 in 14 starts.
After only two appearances with Helena, a member of the Pioneer League, Baron has been sidelined since June 25 with a “dead arm.” He was 0-1 with a 1.35 ERA at the time of his injury.
Baron said he “felt something weird” in his arm, and he has been rehabbing his arm with the goal of returning to game action on Friday.
The good news for Baron is Isom and the Brewers are willing to wait for now.
“We want to know exactly what he’s capable of doing, and it’s hard to do that when the guy’s hurt,” Isom said. “The answer is to just be patient in situations like this, and let him get healthy so he can go out and show what he’s capable of doing.”
Baron, who said he was honored just to be drafted, is happy with the way the Brewers have handled him so far.
“I love the organization. They’re real relaxed. They let you play the way you know how to play. They don’t really try to change anything in you unless it’s something real major.”
Milwaukee caps its young pitchers at 150 innings between their amateur and professional seasons, Isom said. Baron finished his collegiate season with 93 innings pitched, and after 6.2 innings of work in his two appearances with Helena, he will be eligible for about 50 more innings of work in Helena’s final 47 games.
Baron’s first two appearances were as part of “tandem starts” where a starter throws a set number of pitches and is relieved by a pitcher on a similar pitch count. Baron is hoping to slide back into that role when he returns.
Until then Baron will continue his rehabilitation and adjusting to life as a professional.
Baron said he enjoys not having classes and being able to focus all day for a game. The game has sped up a little bit, but he said hitters are having more trouble adjusting to rookie ball than pitchers because of the change to wooden bats.
Baron’s also dealing with a change of scenery, leaving the crowded east coast for sprawling, rural Montana.
“It’s completely different than back out East,” Baron said. “It’s gorgeous out here. There’s no real big cities, and it’s not commercialized. It’s real laid back and easy going.”
Many things may have changed for Baron, but the one constant is his belief he can succeed.
The most important part is Baron has bought into the idea it doesn’t matter when he was drafted.
“All they care about is the work ethic you put in and the results on the field,” Baron said. “As long as I succeed on the field and show them my work ethic, I think I’ll be fine.”
Contact reporter Eric Detweiler at edetweilerdbk@gmail.com.