Shealy’s story one of injuries, but 51s DH keeps on pushing

There's a saying in Triple A that "everybody has a story."

The story of 51s first baseman Ryan Shealy's career is marked by injuries at the most inopportune times.

Poised for a breakout season with the Kansas City Royals in 2007, the 6-foot-5-inch, 240-pound slugger was hampered by a hamstring problem all year.

The 31-year-old has only appeared in 25 major league games since then.

"It's unfortunate. That was going to be my year to shine," Shealy said Monday before going 2-for-4 with a double as Las Vegas' designated hitter in its 8-4 loss to Reno (42-30) at Cashman Field. "I didn't play particularly well, and when I did play, I was hurt."

Shealy, who hit .330 in 36 games for the Rockies in his first major league stint in 2005, excelled for the Royals in 2008 as a September call-up, batting .301 with seven homers and 20 RBIs in 20 games.

But he blew out his knee early in 2009 -- when he hit .345 in 25 games for Triple-A Omaha -- and missed most of the season after undergoing microfracture surgery.

"It was probably the toughest injury I've had to deal with," said Shealy, who was on crutches for two months. "I didn't feel like myself all of last year. I'm trying to put it back together when I can this year.

"It's been tough. … But like I said, everybody's got a story."

Shealy, a career .268 hitter in the majors with 19 homers and 94 RBIs in 169 games, is batting .278 this season for the 51s, with four homers and 21 RBIs in 28 games. He has four straight two-hit games.

Before starting the last seven games for Las Vegas (40-32), Shealy spent most of the year mentoring prospects such as fellow 51s first baseman David Cooper, 24, who leads the Pacific Coast League in batting with a .386 average.

"If they need me to play, I'll give them all I've got. If the younger players here need to play, I'll do what I can to help them," Shealy said.

51s manager Marty Brown said Shealy brings intangibles to the team.

"He's always a threat in the order due to his size and the fact he has hit for power in this league before," he said. "He's a great team guy and has been very important to our club because of his attitude and what he brings to the table in the clubhouse."

An 11th-round draft pick of the Rockies in 2002 out of the University of Florida -- where he had 23 homers and 80 RBIs as a senior -- Shealy said he's grateful he realized his goal of playing in the big leagues.

"I was a guy that didn't sign for a whole lot of money out of college, so anything I got in baseball was gravy," he said.

Now in his 10th professional season, Shealy said he isn't as concerned with making it back to the majors as he is with making the most of his time in Triple A.

"I think my chances aren't very good, but I try not to even worry about that stuff," he said. "I just enjoy being around the game. It's still fun."

n NOTE -- Las Vegas outfielder Travis Snider was placed on the seven-day disabled list with a concussion after getting hit on the brim of his helmet with a pitch in Friday's 6-4 win over Reno. Outfielder Danny Perales was promoted to Las Vegas from Double-A New Hampshire.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.