For Nationals starting pitcher Tim Redding, the months following shoulder surgery three years ago led to a complete re-evaluation of his baseball career.
A once-promising prospect in the Houston Astros organization — ranked as high as No. 3 in that minor-league system by Baseball America magazine — Redding struggled to find his place in an unforgiving game.
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In 2005, he was bounced to a new organization in San Diego. After returning to the Padres from minor shoulder surgery in May of that season, Redding was traded to the New York Yankees, who banished him back to the minor leagues after just one inning.
“It was just kind of throwing my hands in the air and caution to the wind,” said Redding, a 30-year-old right-hander. “I needed to bring in everything that everybody had ever told me about pitching and try and figure out what it was that I wanted to do with my career.”
It’s been a long road. But Redding seems to have found the answer with the Nats, who — on the basis of a solid comeback year at AAA Charlotte in 2006 — signed him prior to spring training last season. Redding still had to spend three more months at AAA Columbus. But injuries in the starting rotation gave him another shot at the big leagues after a surprise recall in early July. Redding took advantage with a 3.64 ERA in 84 innings. He then earned a job from the start in spring training this year and is 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA in seven starts. That pace would surpass a career-best 10 wins with Houston in 2003.
“[Redding] is three years removed from surgery now and this guy has pitched effectively before in the big leagues,” said Nats manager Manny Acta. “He’s been probably our most consistent starter since the second half [of 2007]. It gives me a lot of piece of mind knowing every five days this guy is going to give us at least five innings.”
