News
Cardinals' Parisi fighting way back
Right-hander gives up two hits over five frames in shutout
By Paige Schector / MLB.com
10/29/09 7:18 PM ET
Mike Parisi knows he's in the Arizona Fall League "so everyone can see he's OK" following Tommy John surgery.And if Thursday afternoon's five-inning scoreless stint is any indication, he is.
Parisi only gave up two hits and fanned four for his first victory as visiting Surprise blanked Scottsdale, 3-0.
"I'm still on my road back," he said. "All the scouts and the Cardinals are here taking a look at that."
Parisi went 0-4 in 12 appearances, including two starts, for St. Louis in 2008, before being sent down to Triple-A Memphis. After a few starts, he blew out his arm, underwent Tommy John surgery and then spent most of the '09 season in Palm Beach for rehab.
"I worked my butt off," he said. "While I was down there, I took the time to better myself, not just to get better, but to get 10 times better. There wasn't a day I slacked off."
To that end, the 26-year-old righty developed a cutter which he now labels one of his better pitches. He went to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Cardinals, then made two starts for Class A Advanced Palm Beach before the '09 season ended.
"At Palm Beach, I had a good outing, then a real bad outing," he said. "The bad outing was probably the best thing for me. At Rookie ball, I was doing well. I would not say I relaxed, but it was a bit of a wakeup call when I had the bad outing. You've got to know how to get your butt kicked."
And right now, that's an advantage Parisi thinks he could use. Originally scheduled to play for Caracas in the Venezuelan Winter League, the Cardinals ended up sending him to Arizona instead.
After making nine appearances for the Peoria Saguaros in 2006, Parisi is well aware of the scouts and other influential people out and about at the AFL games.
"Hopefully the Cardinals will keep me going here," he said. "I'm one of the oldest guys in the league, so sometimes it doesn't seem like the scouts are interested. ... I'm here so everyone can see I'm healthy."
Aaron Hartsock (Royals) allowed Pittsburgh prospect Chase d'Arnaud's triple while pitching the sixth, Scott Moviel (Mets) gave up a single over two frames and Gary Daley (Cardinals) allowed a hit and a walk but closed out the game for his first save.
Royals' 2006 50th-rounder Jarrod Dyson collected two runs, two hits and a walk, while Daniel Descalso (Cardinals), Mitch Moreland (Rangers) and Daryl Jones (Cardinals) plated runs for the Rafters (8-7).
Bryan Augenstein (Diamondbacks) allowed a run on four hits over three frames to take the loss for the Scorpions (6-9).
Paige Schector is an editor for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
