JUPITER, Fla. -- As he was rehabilitating his right shoulder, Marlins hurler Henry Owens understood he was facing an uphill battle.

A hard-throwing right-hander, Owens underwent rotator cuff surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews on Aug. 30, 2007. Finally healthy, Owens is in Marlins Spring Training camp trying to get back to the big leagues.

"You'd hear that with this type of rotator cuff surgery, the odds are not in the pitcher's favor," Owens said.

It was pointed out that other pitchers have had their careers end with similar surgeries. Owens says he wants to be the exception, not another statistic. A Miami native who attended Barry University, he is determined to beat the odds as well as overcome some adversity.

On Nov. 11, 2008, Owens was handed a 50-game suspension by Major League Baseball for violating the league's performance-enhancing substance policy.

Owens, who will turn 30 in April, has accepted accountability for the suspension.

"It was a mistake that was made," he said. "Now my focus has just been working hard and helping this team win games."

The earliest Owens would be cleared to play is June. Even then, he's missed so much time that he would need some fine-tuning in the Minor Leagues.

Owens' last appearance for the Marlins came on June 8, 2007. That season, he was used in a setup role and even had some save chances.

Now, Owens is encouraged, because in the first week of Spring Training, he's thrown off the mound five times without any problems. To start camp off, he threw bullpen sessions on back-to-back days.

"This first week here has been a big confidence boost to me, because I have not done this much throwing since the surgery," he said.

"I feel like I have to prove myself all over again. I've missed a lot of time. The focus is just coming out here, giving 100 percent day in and day out and helping this team win games."

The Marlins obtained Owens from the Mets on Nov. 20, 2006, in what has turned into a terrific deal for Florida. In that trade, Owens and Matt Lindstrom were acquired for Jason Vargas and Adam Bostick.

While Owens has been hindered by his shoulder problems, Lindstrom has emerged as Florida's front-runner to close this spring.

Before his injury, Owens showed potential for a promising career.

"I feel right now that I'm healthy and that I'm competitive," he said. "I'm looking to get back to the level that I want to be at. It is going to come with more repetition and more time off the mound.

"I'm not holding back. I really want to get back to the big leagues and help this team win, and I believe that I can."