Former major league player Scott Proctor giving back

STUART, Fla. - Stuart native Scott Proctor has spent seven years in Major League Baseball, pitching for the Yankees, Dodgers and Braves.  

With spring training right around the corner, he's looking forward to another season.  Proctor said he's, "Really excited, you know, in great shape this year, arm feels phenomenal."  

The 35-year-old would love to get back to the big leagues, but his next stop is to play professionally in South Korea.  

"You know, to be able to go halfway around the world, you don't get that many opportunities to do that, and to play a game over there, you know, there's a lot of pride and tradition in Korea," said Proctor.  
In addition to rehabbing his baseball career, the former Florida State star is also a recovering alcoholic.  

"It's made me who I am.  It's helped me to understand life better.  It's helped me to make better decisions."  

Proctor has learned from his mistakes, and seems to be in very good place emotionally.  His wife, Carrie, and their four children have been a huge part of the motivation to maintain his sobriety.  

Proctor also dealt with a major dose of adversity when his daughter Mary Elizabeth, a.k.a. "M.E." was born.  She needed emergency heart surgery soon after her birth. "Emotions I can even explain, I can't even put into words," said Proctor.  

Back in 2006, Proctor and his wife started a foundation called "M.E.'s Team" to benefit Treasure Coast kids in need.  His agent, Mark Rodgers, said, "You know, a lot of people lend their names to charities, lend their names to causes, and then that's all they do and they show up.  You know, he's involved every step, every decision.  He's put his heart and soul into it."  

Proctor has been focused on this weekend's fifth annual Celebrity Sporting Clays Tournament to benefit M.E.'s Team.  Said Proctor, "We should be sponsored by Red Bull, because it's gonna take a lot of energy to make it through this thing."  

The event includes a concert with country music acts Luke Bryan, Lee Brice and Josh Thompson, among others.  For more information, log on to http://mesteamfoundation.org/