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Lefty throws righty for the Winnipeg Goldeyes

Winnipeg Goldeyes catcher Justin Marra. Colton Goforth / Global News

WINNIPEG — Longtime Winnipeg Goldeyes catcher Luis Alen departed in the off-season and one of the backstops vying for the job is Justin Marra.

Marra, 23, has been dealing with an injury in spring training but his injury history started long before he even first picked up a baseball bat.

Marra was born left-handed, but he’s not a southpaw anymore. Marra now throws and writes exclusively with his right hand.

“I broke my left arm twice consecutively when I was at a young age so I was kind of obligated to do stuff with my right hand,” Marra said.

RELATED: A new season and a new job title for Winnipeg Goldeyes manager Rick Forney

It wasn’t a sports injury though. Marra who grew up in Toronto suffered two childhood accidents when he was only two years old.

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“The first time I jumped off a counter,” said Marra. “I was only two years old though. I was really young. And right after I got out of the cast I was actually dancing in the rain. I don’t know I was young as well and I slipped and fell and broke the same arm and cracked my head open. It was a bit of a mess.”

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By the time Marra was out of his cast he was already used to using his right arm and just continued to be a righty even though it wasn’t his dominant arm.

“I’ve never heard of that before but there’s always a first,” said Goldeyes manager Rick Forney.

“I was in a cast for so long,” said Marra. “So I kind of switched over and just started doing stuff with my right. It felt natural.”

RELATED: Many new faces as the Winnipeg Goldeyes open training camp

Whatever he’s doing it must be working. In 2011 Marra was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the MLB June Amateur Draft and he played four seasons in the organization before landing with Quebec of the Can-Am League last August.

It’s a case of…if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it and Marra never really considered going back to a lefty but he has tried it for fun.

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“Just messing around with baseball and stuff trying to throw with the left but it’s not very pretty.”

WATCH: Goldeyes catcher Justin Marra explains why he uses his non-dominant arm for throwing

Click to play video: 'Goldeyes Catcher Justin Marra'
Goldeyes Catcher Justin Marra

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