North Carolina State University Athletics
A Devine Season
3/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 28, 2005
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH - Matt Devine had to wonder if he just wasn't meant to play college baseball.
Every time it appeared, over the last five years, that he was about to catch a break, something usually broke. As a high school junior in Junction City, Kan., it was the thumb in his left hand. That kept college scouts away and forced Devine to go to Allen County (Kan.) Community College.
At Auburn, where he signed out after two years at the junior college, it was his relationship with the coaches. They were convinced that he simply couldn't play at the major college level.
And last year, it was his eyes, the result of a hard-to-figure bacterial infection that caused his eyesight to disintegrate down to 20/150. Because of it, he played in only four games, and his dream of teaming with little brother Joey, the Wolfpack's All-America relief pitcher, seemed about as dim as his vision.
He lost all confidence in his abilities, and figured he just couldn't play the game any more.
It started in the fall of 2003, when Matt Devine thought he was ready to start producing for the Wolfpack. He had transferred to N.C. State for the start of the spring semester that year, opting to sit out as a redshirt while the Wolfpack advanced to the NCAA Super Regional against Miami, behind the strong pitching of Vern Sterry, Michael Rogers and Freshman All-America Joey Devine.
Later that that year, when the older Devine thought he might be competing for a starting job at second base, he noticed that his vision had weakened.
"I didn't know if it was my vision, my mechanics or if I just couldn't play anymore," he says.
When he put in contacts, however, Devine started hitting the ball like he did in junior college. He thought he found the solution. Instead, he created more problems, because at some point he picked up an infection, probably caused by touching his contacts with dirty fingers.
His eyes became bloodshot. He thought going without contacts for a few days would clear up the problem. But days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, and Devine went through a dozen pair of lenses without any improvement, and the season passed him by.
"My vision changed almost daily for three months," he said.
"It was the biggest mess I have ever seen," said Wolfpack coach Elliot Avent.
By then, with his eligibility quickly evaporating, Devine was ready to give up the game he had been playing ever since he could stand up. He couldn't stand coming to the ballpark, even to watch his little brother pitch.
"It was brutal," he said. "I didn't want to come to the yard last year. Baseball has been my life ever since I could stand up and play. And last year, I didn't want to be here." Meanwhile, younger brother Joey continued to put up amazing numbers as the Wolfpack's top reliever, setting the school record for saves with 24 in his first two seasons. You might think that would cause a little family discord, but Matt was able to separate his frustrations from his pride in seeing Joey succeed.
"I never once was jealous of the things he was doing," Matt Devine said. "I was always behind his back. I was more than happy to say "Great job Joey." When somebody asked me what it was like that my younger brother was succeeding and I wasn't. I said, "Look, when I am healthy, I know I can play. When I get my chance, I know I can play."
So Matt went to work. He kept his contacts out for three months, then on July 29 he had Lasik eye surgery to fix his vision. He started a training regimen to get into the best shape of his life. In August, he went to see Joey pitch for Team USA and Avent, who was an assistant coach on the squad, barely recognized him.
He came back to school in the fall and began ripping hits everywhere. He hasn't stopped since.
This spring, Matt Devine is the Wolfpack's starting third baseman and most consistent hitter. Heading into Wednesday night's game against Elon, he has a team-best .420 average, a team-best .605 slugging percentage (with one home run, six doubles and three triples) and is tied for second on the team with 21 RBIs.
"When he got back in the fall, it was like he was a different athlete," Avent said. "He had a great fall and he is having a great spring. I am very proud of him and very happy for him, because I think it is very neat that he and Joey are finally getting to play together again."
Joey now sees the big brother he grew up with, someone who enjoys coming to the yard every day.
"I haven't seen a smile on his face like this since his junior college days," Joey Devine said. "It's great being able to live the dream we have has since we were kids to play college baseball together.
Now, whenever Joey is on the mound, he knows he has family protection at his back, which takes him back to the comfort of the family home back in Kansas.
"After I throw my last warmup pitch, we throw it around the infield and me and my brother just sort of look at each other and nod and kind of say "All right, here we go, just like we are back home in the back yard when were 10 years old playing catch.' "
"That kind of takes away any butterflies or nerves that are going on, no matter what the game situation is."
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
