Tyrell Jenkins back to top form in 2014

After missing almost one year recovering from surgery, most pitchers need a few starts to get their legs back under them and shake off the rust.

That wasn't the case for Palm Beach Cardinals pitcher Tyrell Jenkins.

Jenkins, who suffered a shoulder strain last year on July 6 requiring season-ending surgery in August, couldn't have had a much better season debut for the Cardinals. The right-hander fired six scoreless innings to lead the Cardinals to a 9-0 victory over the Jupiter Hammerheads in his return to the mound on June 17.  

And he didn't surrender a hit.

Jenkins issued two walks and fanned three in the game played at Roger Dean Stadium. Despite taking a no-hitter into the seventh, Jenkins reached his pitch limit for the day and wasn't given the opportunity to pursue the elusive no-hitter.

"It feels great to be back," Jenkins told Kelsie Heneghan of MiLB.com after the start. "Just to say I went through what I went through, facing adversity and getting through it - it was a fun day. Defense was on, catcher was on. I had a few too many walks, but overall it was good."

Jenkins watched from the dugout as Sam Tuivailala and Corey Baker continued the combination no-no bid into the ninth inning. With two outs in the frame, Jupiter third baseman Colin Moran blooped a single into center field to spoil the trio's shot at history.

Despite missing out on being part of a combination no-hitter, Jenkins' excellent debut was the sign of great things ahead for Palm Beach.

In three of his first four starts this season, Jenkins hasn't surrendered an earned run while tossing at least six innings.

More importantly, Palm Beach is 3-0 in those games. The Cardinals have used Jenkins' right arm to climb to the top of the Florida State League South standings. The team has spent most of the second half in first place in the division and the St. Louis Cardinals' supplemental first round draft pick has a lot to do with it.

Jenkins, who was snatched up by the Cardinals in the 2010 draft out of Henderson High School in Texas, is 3-1 with a 1.71 ERA (4ER/21.0IP) overall this year for Palm Beach.

Since signing with the Cardinals, Jenkins has created more than a little buzz throughout the organization. He has been tabbed as a top-ten prospect by Baseball America for four years and is currently listed as the organization's 17th-best prospect.

For three consecutive seasons, Jenkins was rated as the "Best Athlete" in the Cardinals system by Baseball America's "Best Tools" survey. Being recruited by Baylor University to play quarterback, the honor comes as no surprise.

The Cardinals will look to ride his athleticism and powerful arm for as long as he's in Jupiter. With the 6-4 hurler on the mound at Roger Dean Stadium, Palm Beach has a great chance to win baseball games.