GROVE CITY — A fastball that in the past had hit the catcher's mitt with a loud smack has lost its zip.

A curveball that broke sharply downward through the zone no longer had the same snap.

Yes, Bob Revesz figured, it was over.

A torn labrum suffered in 2011 derailed what was a promising baseball career for the Grove City native and left-handed pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

But Revesz isn't feeling sorry for himself.

“I was hanging on to a dream that wasn't going to happen anymore,” Revesz said. “It was time to hang it up.”

Revesz, who will turn 24 Monday, didn't want to merely hang around in the low minors.

Still, the decision was not an easy one for him to make.

“It was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be,” Revesz said. “I've been playing since I was 5 and once you say you're going to hang 'em up and retire, you just don't know what you are going to do next.”

Revesz was highly regarded coming out of Grove City, where he wrapped up his senior season with a 9-1 record, 1.04 ERA and 97 strikeouts. He was selected in the 30th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates, but elected to attend the University of Louisville.

Two years later, the St. Louis Cardinals drafted Revesz in the 49th round.

In his first season in professional baseball at Johnson City in the Appalachian League, Revesz posted a 4-2 record with a 4.84 ERA in 16 relief appearances.

But in spring training last season, Revesz felt pain in his left shoulder. He could barely throw the ball to home plate and went to the team doctor. It was soon determined he had a torn labrum and underwent surgery.

When he came back this season, he said he knew he was just a shadow of his former self.

“I could tell it wasn't coming back,” Revesz said. “I tried to work through it, but it just wasn't there.

“Some people come back well, some people it just never comes back. It's a 50-50 shot whether you are going to come back,” he added.

Revesz returned this year and was 1-1 with a 7.90 ERA in 10 relief appearances for Quad Cities.

“I'd have an outing where I would throw well for two innings,” Revesz said. “Then the next time out, I would get hit around.”

Revesz was three semesters short of a degree in safety management and plans on finishing up at Slippery Rock University.

He'll also get a chance to watch his younger brothers, Jeff and Jason, play.

Both are on the baseball team at Kent State University, which advanced to the College World Series this summer.

Jeff and Jason both play for the Slippery Rock Sliders in the Prospect League.

“I'm going to watch my brothers continue on and help them out any way I can,” Bob Revesz said. “It makes you pretty proud to watch your brothers play.”

Revesz will also remember fondly some of the moments he had in the minor leagues.

“I wouldn't trade it for anything,” Revesz said.