Mudcat seeks major league consistency

VandenHurk, who gave up homers 754 and 760 to Bonds, eyes big league return

ZEBULON -- Rick VandenHurk is only 23 years old, and he's already had a wild ride in professional baseball.

Last year, the Carolina Mudcats right-hander was promoted three times to the Florida Marlins and finished the season there because of an injury-plagued rotation.

"It's what you dream of all of your life," said VandenHurk, who initially caught the attention of baseball scouts while a member of the Netherlands' national team.

It was an eventful stay in the majors, however. He gave up two historic home runs to slugger Barry Bonds -- Nos. 754 and 760. (Bonds' record stands at 762.)

The first homer came at a packed AT&T Park in San Francisco.

"When he came to bat, everybody stood up," he said, recalling that he threw a changeup on Bonds' 754th career homer. "It was so loud it was unbelievable. You throw one ball and everybody is booing you."

In his second game against Bonds, in Miami, he struck out the slugger the first two times.

"I was real happy about that," VandenHurk said. "The third at-bat you think you've got him, but you really don't because this guy is the best in the business."

Bonds hit No. 760 in the third at-bat.

VandenHurk is 6 feet 5 and 195 pounds.

"He's got a great pitcher's body," said John Manuel, editor of Durham-based Baseball America magazine.

Manuel noted VandenHurk's strikeouts-to-innings ratio (he has thrown 30 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings this season).

"That tells you he's got big league stuff," said Manuel, who said VandenHurk just needs experience. "He probably had no business being in the major leagues last year."

That final major league stint lasted more than two months.

"The experience you get up there is big," VandenHurk said. "You learn from the best players."

This year, VandenHurk parlayed a solid spring training into a spot in the Marlins' rotation, but he was not in Miami long.

He had trouble mixing in his breaking pitches, and batters punished him for it.

In two April major league appearances, VandenHurk gave up seven earned runs in 5 1/3 innings for an 11.81 ERA.

"I didn't pitch good. ... If you want to compete in the major leagues, you've got to throw your breaking stuff for strikes and you've got to command your fastball," he said. "And I wasn't able to do that. Then the decision is real easy. They send you down."

After returning in April, he wound up on the disabled list after feeling soreness in his throwing shoulder. The Mudcats shut him down for more than a month, and he has gradually improved.

Mudcats pitching coach Scott Mitchell said VandenHurk has a great work ethic and attitude that will aid in his recovery.

"We know he's got major league pitches," Mitchell said. "Now it's just a matter of him being consistent with them each and every start."

From Mitchell's perspective, VandenHurk has his fastball where it needs to be, up around 94 mph. But it drops off when he starts mixing in his curveball and slider.

"Once he maintains that fastball delivery when he's throwing off-speed, he's going to take right off," Mitchell said.

And now he's back on track and coming off his best start of the season.

VandenHurk didn't give up an earned run in Wednesday's road outing against Chattanooga.

He'll be looking for a repeat performance tonight as the scheduled starter against the Huntsville Stars at 7:15 at Five County Stadium.

VandenHurk hasn't lost sight of his goals. His arm feels good, and he feels good.

"It's just building up stamina and getting rhythm," he said. "It's just consistency."