STATE COLLEGE -- For former Warren Harding/Howland athlete Justin Byler, in many ways it is almost like starting all over again.
After beginning his professional baseball career in 2007, Byler missed the entire 2008 campaign as a result of an off-the-field injury. Although back and ready to go, Byler is struggling in some areas due to having missed the 2008 season.
"Although I am struggling a little, I don't feel like I am pressing," said Byler. "If anybody has seen me play recently, they saw that I have been hitting the ball hard, but a lot of them have been right at people. I am just up there (at the plate) swinging and if it falls, great, and if it doesn't, it doesn't. I am not going to get down on myself as long as I am hitting the ball hard."
Now 13 games into the season, Byler admitted that he still feels somewhat rusty in several areas of the game.
"I do feel a little rusty at times, sometimes it is with hitting and sometimes it is with running," Byler said. "But I still feel good up there (at the plate) and basically, it is just a matter of me getting my confidence back to be able to feel comfortable again."
Thus far in the early part of the season, Byler has been used as a first baseman and as a designated hitter. As long as he is part of the game, the second-year pro said it doesn't really matter to him what role he plays for the State College Spikes.
"It doesn't really matter to me because I love to hit," said Byler. Getting a chance to do that in either situation is OK with me because that (hitting) is my favorite thing to do in baseball. But on the other hand, I also like to be out there playing defense as well as hitting. Either way, either first base or DH, as long as I am in the lineup I am happy."
Although Byler is beginning to hit the ball with authority, his average doesn't reflect that as he currently sports an average of .135. However, despite the low batting mark, his on-base-percentage is decent at .319, largely due to his ability to work opposing pitchers for bases on balls. "It (hitting the ball hard without positive results) is very frustrating, but it is also a part of baseball," said Byler. "You can go 0-for-3 with three line drives and then you might go 3-for-4 with three broken bat singles. I'll take a hit anyway I can and as long as I am hitting the ball hard, I know my swing is good so I am not going to worry about it right now."
As for his health and physical well-being, Byler feels he is nearly fully recovered following his injury (compound fracture of forearm) and the year off.
"Swinging-wise or twisting and turning my wrist doesn't bother me," Byler said. "I feel that if I am not 100 percent, I am very close. The only thing I worry about somewhat is getting on the wrist. If I don't get hit too much on the forearm, I should be all OK."
Byler’s frustrations continue as he has posted back-to-back 0-for-4 outings against Auburn in the first two games of the 3-game series with the Doubledays.
