When a promising young athlete suffers a devastating injury, the path back to the sport they love can seem impossibly long.
For one Brisbane Metro player, Ruaridh McLean, however, perseverance, a supportive club, and expert guidance from SPHC Acupuncturist, Neil turned a nightmare into an inspiring comeback story.
The Beginning of a Baseball Journey
Ruaridh has played for the All Stars Baseball club since 2021 and has been representing the Brisbane Metro regional side since 2023.
“I love playing baseball—it’s good fun throwing hard and trying to hit against good pitchers”, Ruaridh said.
“There’s also no better way to catch up with your mates than having a throw and a hit every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.”
But in early 2025, while playing for All Stars, Ruaridh’s world was turned upside down.
“During a game in the 2nd half of the season, I seriously injured my throwing shoulder,” he explained.
“This required weeks off playing as I was unable to lift my arm up. I was devastated and worried I’d miss being picked for the Metro team due to my injury.”
The Start of Recovery
Ruaridh’s recovery began with a visit to SPHC Acupuncturist, Neil.
“I was recommended to see Neil due to his own experience as a National Level Baseball player and I knew he would understand what I needed to get better.”
“I was a bit nervous not having had acupuncture before, but I just wanted to play again so was happy to give it a try,” he recalled.
“Neil also gave me exercises I could start immediately, which allowed me to begin my recovery as soon as possible.”
Neil remembers that initial consultation well.
“From the start, Ruaridh was focused on doing everything he could to recover quickly and properly, and he coped really well with Acupuncture,” Neil said.
“My role was to provide him with a structured plan and support him every step of the way. Rehabilitation is never a one-size-fits-all process,” Neil said.
“We adjusted his treatment and program as he progressed, ensuring his recovery was as smooth as possible.Ruaridh responded really well to the Acupuncture sessions”
The Return to Baseball
After missing 6 games, Ruaridh made his full return.
“Pulling on the Allstars jersey again felt amazing, and to still be able to play for the Metro Team in 2025 meant a lot” he said.
“Thanks to Neil and the SPHC team, I had complete confidence in my recovery and know I can trust Neil to help me achieve my baseball goals.”
Neil takes pride in seeing his clients return to what they love.
“Seeing Ruaridh back on the field and throwing strongly was incredibly rewarding,” Neil said.
“It’s why we do what we do—to help athletes regain confidence in their bodies.”
Ruaridh said Neil’s guidance definitely contributed to his successful return.
“Neil helped me feel strong and gave advice on strapping, recovery, and warmups to avoid re-injury. I’ve continued to use many of these to this day.”
The hard work paid off.
“Now in 2026, my shoulder feels great, and I helped the Brisbane Metro Intermediate team qualify for the Nationals in May. After missing so many games in 2025, this was one of my proudest achievements. If we win the Nationals, we get to represent Australia at the Intermediate League World Series in California in August”
For this Baseballer the sky is truly the limit.
Brisbane Metro Baseball is holding a fundraising raffle with some amazing prizes to help with the costs of attending Nationals this May. Follow this link to grab your tickets. Good luck!