When he returned to the big leagues in 2010, he never recaptured his old form.Īs Wolforth inspected his new student, he began with a series of assessments - or audits, as he calls them. A year later, the foot problems manifested into shoulder issues and Wang underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in 2009. In June 2008, he suffered a torn Lisfranc ligament in his right foot and missed the rest of the season. His career began to crumble as his body gave way. From his rookie season in 2005 to the summer of 2008, he posted a 54-20 record and a 3.79 ERA. Among the practices that Wolforth endorses: Shoulder exercises with a long tube various forms of long-toss and the use of weighted balls and the utilization of a "connection ball", an inflated ball that is tucked between the shoulder and forearm.įor Wang, once the ace of the Yankees' pitching staff, there was little to lose. It has dedicated pupils, like Indians starter Trevor Bauer, and some skeptics. In baseball circles, the Wolforth way is an unorthodox endeavor, if not outright controversial. 29, Wang had sat down for his first consultation with Wolforth. "It was: 'Let's see if we can find another Ryan Madson.' "Ī month earlier, on Nov. "We had nothing to lose," Francisco says. Rene Francisco, the Royals' assistant general manager, received a tip: Wang was undertaking a new throwing program he was healthy again. In the early weeks of December, as club officials traveled to the winter meetings in Nashville, Wang's name surfaced as a possibility. In the offseason, the Royals set out to find the next Madson. When the season was over, he signed a three-year, $22 million contract with the Oakland A's. He responded by coming to spring training, winning a job, and posting a 2.13 ERA in 63 1/3 innings. A year ago, the Royals conjured reliever Ryan Madson from nothing, signing the veteran reliever after he had lodged three years away from the big leagues - and a year away from organized baseball. So it's an opportunity: Come on in and show us what you got."įor the Royals, the philosophy is a core principle less mantra, more way of life. He has allowed just one earned run in six innings, recording three scoreless appearances. His sinker is humming again, hitting 95 on the radar gun, according to one scout. Then he started throwing.įor Wang - and the Royals - the early returns have been promising. When camp began, he was something like a 35-year-old lottery ticket, another veteran pitcher in a crowd, a genuine long shot. Three months later, Wang is here at Royals camp, in the midst of another comeback bid. "There's nothing to lose," Wang says now. The meeting, Wang says, was a turning point. They met at the Florida Baseball Ranch, a satellite facility in nearby Brandon, Fla. Wolforth boarded a flight to Tampa Bay, Fla., near Wang's home in Orlando, Fla.
By the end of the conversation, Wang agreed to a three-day session in late November.