He wasn't gone, however. Fans could see him every now and again in the Oakland dugout, watching the game with his arms crossed. His hand was sometimes hidden, or he would never be seen walking. Schwizzle was fighting some injuries that never seemed to relent.

"When I was out there," the young pitcher says, "In practice games, something would come up so often. I'd get a lot of blisters. I once broke my femur stepping off the mound the wrong way. It was awful."

The young pitcher admits that it helped him develop new pitching strategies, however.

"I learned to change my windup to not step so violently," Schwizzle says. "I don't rub the ball so hard over my fingers when I throw my curve. Works just as well."

Schwizzle fought hard in the shadow of Cy Young winner Sal Shark. While Shark fought to bring the team back into relevancy, Schwizzle went through physical therapy, wanting desperately to help him tow the wait. He wanted to assist his team. He wanted to make his first major league start.

"Through Season 1 and the beginning of Season 2, I was alerted to some trade talks," says Schwizzle. "But when I began to show improvements, Gymnast began to believe in me."

Schwizzle's leg healed, and he once again took the mound for a practice game.

He exited with 10 strikeouts and no injuries. It was time for the real deal.