Kansas City Royals release Sean McCauley

He tried to play through the pain. He even tried switching to another position to see if that would lessen the stress on his shoulder.

But Sean McCauley's attempt to avoid another shoulder surgery was futile. He could not throw the ball above his head, his motion instead reduced to a side-arm attempt.

So it came as no surprise then to the 21-year-old Osbourn High School graduate when the Kansas City Royals released him a week ago.

It was a decision McCauley knew was coming. With a third surgery awaiting him, McCauley understood why the Royals made the move they made. He'd been told by the Royals back in June when he visited Kansas City for an MRI that he had two options: play through it or have the surgery. But if he opted to have the surgery, he was told he more than likely would be released.

McCauley appreciated the Royals switching him to second base to see if that would help him avoid sur-gery.

"I respected that as they tried to take a lot of pressure off my shoulder," McCauley said. "It was not enough."

Darryl Kennedy, McCauley's manager in the Rookie-level Arizona League, informed McCauley of Kansas City's decision. McCauley then packed up his things and drove home. Thirty-five hours and 2,400 miles later, he was back in Manassas, contemplating his next move.

Through his agent, McCauley secured an appointment with a doctor with the Cincinnati Reds, who agreed to perform the surgery next month at a day to be determined. McCauley remains optimistic that once the surgery is done, he will be able to come back after re-hab and sign with another major-league baseball organization.

In the meantime, McCauley is spending his time doing private baseball lessons for area kids.

McCauley's first shoulder surgery was when he was 15 and tore his labrum. He had his second surgery last October to clean up the labrum.

McCauley began this spring in Arizona at the Royals' spring training facility in Surprise, rehabbing the shoulder with the hope that he could return to the field full time.

A 12th round pick by Kansas City out of Osbourn in 2007, McCauley turned down a scholarship to West-ern Carolina to sign with the Royals. At one time, he was considered one of the top catching prospects in Kansas City's organization.

In his first season of professional baseball, McCauley hit .286 in the Arizona League and followed that up by hitting .278 in 2008 at Idaho Falls of the Rookie-level Pioneer League.

In 2009, McCauley played for low-A Burlington, but he only hit .222 in 51 games before being sidelined for the rest of the season.

Sports editor David Fawcett can be reached at 703-530-3911