Spotlight on Division 2 and a French player. Pitcher for the Dragons de Ronchin in northern France near Lille, meet Cyril Beaurepaire who has been sporting an impressive 1.14 ERA since the start of the championship.
BTVF: Who are you, Cyril Beaurepaire?
C.B.: I’m 30 years old, I live in Lille with my partner where I work as a physiotherapist in a rehabilitation center and as part of the medical staff for the Lille basketball team playing in Pro B.
BTVF: What is your background in French baseball and why the pitcher position?
C.B.: I started at 9 years old, around 2004, just after my brother who is 6 years older than me, after trying out many sports (swimming, judo, tennis, badminton, etc.).
I clearly remember my first training session in Ronchin where I tried to return the ball with the glove. I was lucky to start in a club where the youth sections were well structured and to be accompanied by competent and passionate coaches.
I’ve been playing as a pitcher and shortstop/third base since the beginning. I love pitching for the one-on-one battles it involves with the batter.
I started training with the adults with a friend from the age of 14. This allowed me to intensify my practice and set other goals to earn my place in this team. We both participated, following an invitation from the historic coach of Dunkerque against whom we often played, in a youth national team selection. It didn’t work out, and in hindsight, I wasn’t mentally prepared, not knowing what to expect.
I started working on an unusual pitch, the knuckleball, which I threw almost exclusively in games between the ages of 15 and 18. The year of my physical therapy exams left me little time for training. I picked it up more seriously the following year with a more classic pitching style, no longer having enough time to devote to bullpen sessions and specific training.
Like many players, I’m in my 2nd or 3rd last season, but my passion for baseball, my teammates, and the expanded pool of 8 teams has made me re-sign again!
BTVF: How did your career go when your elbow had to be operated on, and how did you get back on the mound?
C.B.: This happened a year after a fracture in my right hand that had already kept me off the field for a few months, but I was relieved to finally have appropriate treatment. I had been in pain for several years when I had to undergo surgery in 2018.
Even though the surgery was a bit more extensive than expected, to put it simply, it was necessary to remove a bone spur that was causing conflict with my joint and a nerve. The ligament was still in good enough condition to avoid a Tommy John surgery, which would have involved a longer rehabilitation.
I took it step by step, first with physical therapy with a friend I trusted, then reathleticization, hitting, and gradually long toss.
I offered myself as a closer for the following season to reduce the number of innings pitched and little by little I increased the volume in games.
I mainly worked on relaxing my arm to regain fluidity in my mechanics and relearned to enjoy pitching without pain!
My job as a physical therapist now allows me to optimize the little time I have to devote to my physical preparation in order to target the key aspects of my health and performance. My experience with athletes and pro coaches has also greatly enriched my approach to sport and training. The importance of understanding why we train, putting a specific intention behind each exercise, and focusing on our game and the means to achieve it rather than the result.
BTVF: How would you describe your type of pitcher?
C.B.: First of all, the kind of pitcher who loves to hit, even if it’s energy-consuming, it allows me to maintain a state of tension and a symbiosis with the rest of the team. On the mound, I’d say aggressive: I throw few balls to be ahead in the count and throw few easy strikes. This often leads to contact but less often to hits. I rely a lot on defense and am always pumped up after a big defensive play!
I think I have the ability to raise my level of play during crucial at-bats, which allows me to stop the offensive momentum of the opposing team without necessarily having the best fastball or the biggest arsenal of pitches.
To conclude on my pitching style, I like this quote from Greg Maddux: « I could probably throw harder if I wanted, but why? When they’re in a jam, a lot of pitchers…try to throw harder. Me, I try to locate better » and this phrase: do things seriously without taking yourself too seriously.
BTVF: This year, your match statistics in Division 2 are very good, what are your objectives and those of the Ronchin team for the season?
C.B.: First, the team’s objectives in order: maintaining our position, a positive win ratio, and then participating in the playoffs for the human and sporting adventure it represents.
Personally, I focus on maintaining my pitching style, helping the team with our objectives, and going home proud of my performance. As few walks as possible, as few earned runs as possible, and big hits at the plate!
I remain very humble about the good stats from this first part of the season and my performances. The hardest part is yet to come to achieve our objectives, and in my opinion, the right mindset is necessary to get there while continuing to progress!
BTVF: What can we wish you?
C.B.: To achieve the mentioned objectives and to have fun with the team while doing so! Individual results will follow.
I take this opportunity to thank my club, the Dragons de Ronchin, as well as the people who work for its life, my teammates, coaches, opponents, and officials without whom we could not have fun while pushing ourselves on the fields in a beautiful sporting spirit! Thanks also to the Baseball TV France team for the spotlight and for the interest shown in French baseball at any level!
