The Royals , desperate for talent, took Greinke with the sixth overall pick in the 2002 draft and two years later rushed him to the majors. He was a curiosity to those around him, often making puzzling statements and rarely communicating.

Greinke took a horrific beating, which included an American League-leading 17 losses in 2005 at age 21. The game lost any appeal for him.

After leaving the Royals in the spring of 2006, Greinke sought professional help. Counseling sessions determined he was dealing with the demons of depression and a social-anxiety condition.

In short, Greinke did not want to be around people in unstructured situations. He could stand on a mound before a packed house without difficulty but hated every minute in a spring-training clubhouse.

Counseling and medication had a desired effect. Greinke began to feel comfortable with himself. He felt the urge to pitch again. By June, Greinke was back, in the Double-A Texas League.

"It didn't matter if Zack never pitched again," Baird said. "I'm proud of him for what he did for himself as a person. He took on a real problem in public at a very young age. Not many people could do that."

Greinke's recovery remains a day-to-day process.

McClure said he is careful to "let Zack have his space." Manager Trey Hillman tries to limit his visits with Greinke to about two per week. Hillman happily reported their talks have grown longer.

Hillman and McClure both see Greinke as more involved in the clubhouse. He has developed a bond with veteran righthander Gil Meche, who has helped draw out the best in Greinke.

"I really didn't like anything to do with being around people," Greinke said. "But I enjoy it now. Every single day for the last couple of years, I've enjoyed it. That's part of the reason why I signed here again. I knew I enjoyed it here in this situation."

In January, Greinke accepted a three-year contract extension worth $38 million. Royals general manager Dayton Moore said negotiations were unusual in that they were a "celebration" of what Greinke had done for himself rather than bickering about dollars.

"There's been tremendous growth by Zack," Moore said. "The physical part was never a question with him. He made the decision to confront this health issue and deal with it so that his natural gifts would play out on the field."