Link includes video interview Pain-free, Manatees pitcher is back where he started Lamontagne, 27, committed to comeback after arm injuries stalled career by John A. Torres, Florida Today At the end of the day, the only thing that wards off the sickening closed-throat feeling of regret and self-doubt is the ability to look in the mirror with the knowledge that you gave it your best. Not easy to do when your friends have settled down nicely into their lives: careers, homes, families and your right arm is betraying you at every turn. But that’s what drives Andre Lamontagne, a man among boys playing baseball for the Brevard County Manatees. Lamontagne, a 27-year-old right-handed pitcher coming back after missing the past two seasons due to arm injuries, is practically a senior citizen in the Florida State League, where most players are barely old enough to drink legally. The average age of players in the FSL, high Class-A ball, is 23. His right arm and four-pitch arsenal — fastball, slider, deuce and change-up — were good enough to catapult him from rookie ball to low A-ball, to high A-ball and finally Double-A during his first full season of pro ball in 2010. It was a magical ride up the ladder and there seemed little doubt Lamontagne would soon be pitching at Miller Park for the Brewers. But that was before the betrayal, before the right shoulder started getting sore, nearly derailing all of his boyhood dreams permanently. Nearly, but not quite. The 2011 season was spent doing physical therapy, trying to strengthen certain muscles, an attempt to chase the pain away. It didn’t work and the 2012 season was lost to shoulder surgery. The shoulder wasn’t the only thing hurting. “It was tough. I had big aspirations for 2011 and it was rough seeing a whole lot of guys I played with make it to the Major Leagues,” he said the other day from the dugout at Space Coast Stadium while his teammates took batting practice. “If you dwell on it too much then it becomes frustrating. But I tried not to let it get to me too much and just focus on the work, on the rehab and just getting better.” Even now, even though he is basically starting all over again, pitching for the Manatees the way he did in 2010, Lamontagne never gave walking away a single thought. “It was definitely tough not having a whole lot of money and rehabbing,” he said. “There was a lot of stress and it was very tough but I knew this was my career and this was what I wanted to do and felt that if I had given it up and gotten a job then I wouldn’t have been able to look back and say I gave it my best shot.” So, the 27-year-old minor leaguer reported to spring training and did just that. He worked hard, stayed behind when the team broke camp and then after a precautionary stint on the disabled list to begin the season, is pitching for the Manatees. “It’s good. I’m pain-free,” he said. “I wanted to make sure that I gave it my best shot and I have and it feels great.” They’re still baby-steps on the road to the big leagues. But, put enough baby steps together and who knows? “I’m not thinking that far ahead,” he said. “I’m just trying to get stronger and continue being pain free. Whatever happens happens. I saw what happened during my first year so I know it’s possible. What keeps me here is the love for the game. Hopefully one day I can get to the Major Leagues. I know it’ll be a lot sweeter than if I made it before.” Major Leagues or not, Lamontagne has already crushed any possibility of that sickening closed-throat feeling that comes with regret. That’s the first, maybe the most important, ‘W’ in the column.