2018 Marlins draft pick finally debuts

In Derek Jeter’s first draft as the CEO of the Miami Marlins, the team selected catcher Cameron Barstad out of Serra High School in San Mateo, CA, in the sixth round, despite having an injured wrist.

13 months later, he makes his professional debut with the Gulf Coast League Marlins.

On April 17th, 2018, exactly 1 year, 2 months and 19 days ago I played my last game before my injury. Today I finally got to make my professional debut. I just want to thank all the doctors, trainers and coaches that have helped me get back on the field healthy again! #maxout pic.twitter.com/FU1xtadDAc

— Cameron Barstad (@cameron_barstad) July 6, 2019

“Man today felt like all my hard work was finally coming together and when I caught the first pitch it was like old times,” Barstad said. “It was go time.”

He said surprisingly that he didn’t experience any jitters going into his first professional game.

“Felt like normal and felt like I did before my injury,” Barstad said. “I mean it was a long comeback, took a lot of hard work to get back.”

April 17, 2018 was when he originally injured his wrist and ended his playing days in high school, two months before the draft. There’s a good chance that he would’ve drafted higher had he’d been healthy going in.

“Yeah I could have gone higher had not been injured,” Barstad said, “but everything happens for a reason and I’m happy the way everything’s worked out.”

After signing, Barstad reported to Jupiter and was rehabbing until October with hopes that surgery wouldn’t be required. He took some time off and and returned for the Instructional League, which is basically extended spring training after the minor league season. The highlight came when he met Jeter during a “be a big leaguer” workout at Marlins Park.

“It felt like talking to just another guy,” Barstad said, “then after I thought to myself, ‘oh wow ok I just met Derek Jeter!'”

Barstad’s wrist never truly healed and he went with surgery on the last day of February of this year and returned to Jupiter for further rehab on March 17. From wrist surgery to Tommy John, rehab is a long grueling road where sometimes it can feel like the end is near but also see light at the end of the tunnel at the same time.

“I think the hardest part was the mental aspect of it and being able to trust that the doctors know what there doing and being able to push through the days when I was sore and just trust that it will subside eventually,” Barstad said. “The worst day felt really soar and I had thoughts somtimes that I wouldn’t be able to swing a bat again pain free. And the best days it reminded me that you know the pain and soarness will subside I just need to trust it and take it Day by day”

Barstad is still working towards his first professional hit and will have until the end of August to get it.