Ex-East Cobb Baseball Star Gunning for Majors Again

Former East Cobb Baseball star Jimmy Barthmaier leaned on the wall in the cramped Waterfront Park hallway in Trenton, N.J., miles from the nearest major league stadium, and happily waxed about his three favorite days of 2008.

There was June 27, when the then 24-year-old debuted in the big leagues, pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Rays. Next came Sept. 20 against the Astros and, finally, Sept. 27 in San Diego. Despite poor results, the Roswell High School graduate had lived his dream, and thought he'd at least left this part of his journey - the Double-A Eastern League of long bus rides - behind for good.

Yet nearly three years to the day of his greatest triumph, Barthmaier still faces his biggest challenge, as the lanky righty recovers from one of the longer of baseball detours: Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery.

"It's like making a U-Turn, but a lot of guys go through it," Barthmaier said. "It's not a fun road to be on, but it makes you learn how to pitch with downgraded stuff. Then, when you feel you're getting back to where you were before, it becomes exciting."

Now with his third organization, the Washington Nationals, Barthmaier, 27, feels he is at the "exciting" point of his healing, where he's no longer unsure about where his fastball is heading or worried about how sore he'll be the next day.

Though his overall numbers for Double-A Harrisburg aren't good - a 6.63 ERA and 46 hits allowed, including six home runs - in 36 2/3 innings, he's been trending upward. He's struck out 12 batters while walking none in his previous 9 2/3 innings, giving up just three runs on eight hits. His velocity has returned more regularly, reaching 94 miles per hour, or close to where he was pre-injury.

"At the beginning, you're trying to make sure everything is good physically, and getting the strength back," said Senators pitching coach Randy Tomlin, a former major leaguer himself. "From there, it's a trust issue in knowing things are fine and you can go after it like you need to. Jim is doing that now."

As with most pitchers, Barthmaier's recovery was slow. Eight months after working five innings at PETCO Park, he could barely lift his arm following the surgery. He faced two batters during the 2009 season, walking them both. He pitched three innings apiece for Single-A Bradenton and Double-A Altoona in 2009 and was released by the Pirates. He joined the Nationals and appeared in 13 games at two levels, including making five starts.

With the Senators, he's been used largely as a reliever, a position he embraces nearly two years removed from surgery. "That's an adjustment and I'm enjoying it," he said. "I'm having fun again. The last time I pitched healthy, I was 24. That's how much you miss when you have surgery. I've seen a lot of guys come back from my situation. It's not something you want, but there are a lot of success stories. Hopefully, I'll be one of them."

While developing for the Roswell High School Hornets, Barthmaier also played the East Cobb Yankees, which featured a number of Georgia-bred athletes who are now in the majors, including Nick Markakis (Orioles), Stephen Drew (Diamondbacks), Mitchell Boggs (Cardinals) and Matt Capps (Twins).

"There was a lot of great talent in that area and we all still work out together. You look back, and it was great to be a part of that experience," he said.

No experience compared to June 27, though, when Barthmaier retired Akinori Iwamura on a grounder for the first out of his big-league career. It didn't go well after that, as he gave up a three-run homer to Evan Longoria. In the third inning, he gave up another home run to Eric Hinske, who signed with the Pirates that winter and, naturally, remembered Barthmaier.

"He said 'I remember you. That was the furthest ball I've ever hit,'" Barthmaier said. "That was funny. He definitely hit it far, but at least it didn't go in the river. He was good about it, and I just said, 'Yeah, you got me.' There's not much you can say. It was memorable deal. Good, bad or indifferent, it's still a dream to get there."

The dream now is to get there again.