CHASING A DREAM: MOZINGO NOT GIVING UP AFTER BATTLING INJURIES
By: Scott Day
Standing on the concourse at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington, Delaware with the rain pouring down, a lone figure can be seen jogging along the warning track. The rain picks up and the figure keeps running harder. It’s the perfect symbolism for the past two years for former VCU standout Harold Mozingo.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way for Mozingo, who was selected in the sixth round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals.
The Tappahannock, Va., native dominated the CAA for the three years he spent with the Black & Gold, earning all-conference accolades every year and won the 2004 CAA Rookie of the Year award after posting seven wins in his freshman season.
His success continued during his first two minor league seasons posting 10 wins and nearly eight strikeouts per nine innings, but that changed quickly.
“I really never had to face that type of adversity until that third year,” Mozingo said. “It just shows you how this game keeps you so humble.”
The shoulder was the first thing to get in his way, keeping him in the Royals training facility in Arizona for the entire 2008 season.
It looked like 2009 would be his chance to return to the mound, but that only lasted three outings for the AZL (Arizona League) Royals and Mozingo was back on the shelf, this time with elbow issues.
“It just seemed like nothing could go right,” Mozingo said. “But the Royals were great and told me to go home, rest and try to come back this year. That’s all I could do, I wasn’t going to give up, this is my dream.”
The time at home allowed Mozingo to rest his powerful right arm, and refocus on his life-long dream of reaching the major leagues.
“Some people may ask, why keep trying, just move on and get a regular job,” Mozingo said. “Baseball is all I’ve ever wanted to do, I had to keep going until nobody would take me anymore.”
And so he headed out to Arizona for 2010 Spring Training and this time it was different.
“This year was different for me. I didn’t really have any expectations because I had no idea how my arm was going to react. With the injuries I had been through, I didn’t want to have all these high expectations and then be disappointed again,” Mozingo said.
After being a starting pitcher for all his life, the Royals send him out to the bullpen and after just six outings for the low Class-A Burlington Bees, Mozingo was promoted to the Wilmington Blue Rocks (High Class-A) of the Carolina League.
His first couple of outings were up-and-down, but he found a groove quickly. Since June 1, he has been dominant for the Blue Rocks, posting a 1.89 ERA in 19.0 innings of work, allowing just 16 hits and striking out 16.
“This is probably the best I’ve felt since college,” Mozingo said. “My arm feels great and every time I step on the mound, I’m confident I can get the opposing hitters out.”
“Harold’s an incredibly talented kid who has been through a lot,” Blue Rocks pitching coach Steve Luebber said. “I really think his maturity has helped him settle into a key role for us this year. He’s a guy that can command several different pitches and a guy we can constantly rely on out of the pen.”
And that transition to the bullpen for Mozingo?
“I’m ready to do whatever the Royals need me to do, but I honestly like the bullpen. I think it has helped with my arm’s recovery and I like coming in and having the challenge of guys being on base. Pitching in those situations is something I thrive on,” he said.
It’s not exactly how Mozingo envisioned chasing of his life-long dream, but he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get there, even if it means running in the pouring rain in small-town, Wilmington, Delaware.
CHASING A DREAM: MOZINGO NOT GIVING UP AFTER BATTLING INJURIES
“This year was different for me. I didn’t really have any expectations because I had no idea how my arm was going to react. With the injuries I had been through, I didn’t want to have all these high expectations and then be disappointed again,” Mozingo said. 