Scott Maine returns to South Florida — as a reliever for the Chicago Cubs

MIAMI GARDENS — It's such old news to Scott Maine and his family. But every now and then, a Chicago Cubs teammate will ask the rookie pitcher from Jupiter about the scar that runs across the top of his head from ear to ear.

"I tell them I was in a car accident,' he said. "And basically that's the extent of the conversation.'

For Maine, the scar is a reminder of his difficult and painful path to the major leagues, a journey with one obstacle that nearly ended his career and another that nearly ended his life.

That journey will take a momentous turn Friday night, when family, friends and former Dwyer High School teammates come to the Cubs-Marlins game at Sun Life Stadium to see Maine for the first time as a major league player.

"It's kind of surreal,' said Bud Maine, Scott's father, who attended two Cubs games in Washington after his son was called up Sept. 1. "This was expected, but unexpected.'

Expected because Scott, 25, was determined to be a big-league pitcher since his days as Dwyer prospect. Unexpected because he nearly died five years ago in an accident on Florida's Turnpike.

Maine came back from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in his sophomore year at the University of Miami in 2004. But one August day in 2005, he lost control of his truck in Broward County.

He was hospitalized for more than three weeks, including two days in an induced coma. He underwent surgery to reduce swelling in his brain and to insert seven titanium rivets in his skull.

Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez, who played with Maine at UM, remembers going with a group of Hurricanes players to see their bruised and battered teammate in the hospital.

"We all kind of just stopped and looked at life and how quickly it could just end,' Sanchez said.

Sanchez said he couldn't help but be skeptical that day when Maine told teammates in a slurred whisper that he would pitch again soon.

But he did bounce back the next season, going 12-3 and picking up Miami's only win in the 2006 College World Series.

He was drafted by Colorado in the 23rd round that year but didn't sign. A year later, he was picked in the sixth round by Arizona, which converted him to a reliever.

Maine came to the Cubs in the November 2009 trade for pitcher Aaron Heilman. Maine made his major-league debut Aug. 27 at Cincinnati, throwing one inning and striking out the first batter he faced, pitcher Johnny Cueto. In seven appearances, Maine has a 3.86 ERA and two holds in seven innings.

Sanchez said he'll be thrilled to see his old Hurricanes teammate in a Cubs uniform Friday night.

"He went through a lot more than most guys have to go through to get to this same point,' Sanchez said.

"Guys go through Tommy John (surgery) and make it to the big leagues after the surgery, but after going through an accident of that caliber where he could've died easily, it's something that shows his character —- he knew what he wanted to become and he was able to do it.'

Maine said the accident has helped him keep his Cubs call-up in perspective. He has been able to focus on improving as a pitcher rather than being wowed by life in the major leagues.

"I've been through so much as far as baseball and life in general. I don't really get too excited about certain things. I don't show it at least,' he said. "I still have to go out there and pitch. You can't be stuck on the fact that you are there.'

He hangs out with other rookies. And he's living at a Hampton Inn hotel in downtown Chicago because he said it didn't make sense to rent an apartment with the season almost over.

Oh, and he has adopted a look favored by many major leaguers - he shaved his head.

"It's easier to keep it looking nice,' he said.

Sure, it shows off the scar, but Maine doesn't mind.

"It's a part of who I am,' he said. "I can't go around hiding the fact that I got a huge scar on my head. It's kind of a cool story.'



(palmbeachpost.com)