Few college baseball players get the opportunity to travel to Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium wearing a freshly-sewn patch that reads “College World Series.”

Senior pitcher Ricky Fairchild was one of those fortunate few, reaching the College World Series last season as a member of the Tulane Green Wave. Now he is working toward doing the same for the Kansas Jayhawks.

“It’s something that’s every college baseball player’s dream, and I think everybody deserves to experience it at some point, either as a fan or as a player,” Fairchild said. “I’d like to get back.”

The chances of Fairchild making back-to-back College World Series appearances might seem unrealistic, but the odds were against him last year as well.

Photo by Lisa Lipovac

Senior pitcher Ricky Fairchild transfered to KU from Tulane this season. Fairchild went with Tulane to the College World Series last season.

As Baseball America’s No. 1 prospect in the National Baseball Congress World Series in the summer of 2003, Fairchild had the potential for a professional contract.

That was until the end of that year. Fairchild underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the rest of the 2004 season.

Despite the setback, Fairchild was determined to return to the mound. With a positive outlook, faith in his doctors and physical therapists and dedication to his therapy regimen, he finally returned in 2005.

“The first time out there was a little nerve-racking, just because there’s that fear in the back of your mind that, ‘What if it happens again?’” Fairchild said. “I didn’t want to try to go 100 percent for fear that it might hurt, but then after I got in the rhythm for a little while and my arm was feeling good, I didn’t really have any problems.”

That season, as a senior by academic standards, he fulfilled his dream of reaching the College World Series. Although the No. 1 seeded Green Wave failed to win the championship, Fairchild said he cherished the experience.

Fairchild graduated from Tulane that spring, but decided not to let his baseball career end. With an extra year of eligibility because of the medical redshirt he took in 2004, he began searching for a school closer to his native Dallas.

There was only one problem: Fairchild’s coach at Tulane, Rick Jones, denied his request to release him to play at a Texas school because of Tulane’s proximity.

As a result, Fairchild looked for up-and-coming programs.

Kansas fit that criteria.

Fairchild said Hurricane Katrina did not play a factor in his decision to transfer to Kansas.

He committed to Kansas a week before Katrina struck Louisiana.

Even before Fairchild threw a pitch in Lawrence, Kansas coach Ritch Price said Fairchild’s presence on the roster could only improve the team’s chances of going deep into the postseason.

“The fact that he pitched at Tulane in a Top 25 program and he’s been to the College World Series, I thought he could really bring some experience to our staff that could be a great addition,” Price said.

Fairchild only pitched as a reliever at Tulane last season. This season, Fairchild is a regular KU starter.

“He’s done great,” senior closer Don Czyz said. “I really didn’t expect him to come in here and contribute as much as he did, but he’s already had two great starts and he’s defining his role as the Saturday starter on this team and that’s something that we definitely needed.”

In 10 1/3 innings of work this season, Fairchild is 2-0 with a 2.61 ERA and five strikeouts. He has allowed only three earned runs for No. 30 Kansas.

Fairchild has also proven to be a valuable source of knowledge for younger pitchers on the team.

“I go to Ricky mostly because he has the most experience,” freshman pitcher Andy Marks said. “He’s been everywhere.”

Being a native of Texas, Fairchild said he looked forward to playing against the Longhorns the most but tries to keep from looking too far into the future. He will face No. 9 San Diego, who swept then-No. 1 Texas two weeks ago, on Saturday in the Public Storage Classic.

“In the near term, I can’t wait for this weekend,” he said. “Whoever I’m pitching against, I’m ready for that challenge.”

— Edited by Matt Wilson