The last few weeks have been nothing short of insane. Two weeks ago, Erin and I were ready for our fun-filled summer together. But life had different ideas for our summer. I was drafted to play baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers organization on June 6. To make a long story a lot shorter, Erin and I spent many days deciding what we were going to do. Was I going to go and try to play professional baseball? Or was I going to stay home all summer and pass up my one and only opportunity to try to accomplish my childhood dream? The decision may seem easy to some, but it was not one that Erin and I took likely. After all, we had great things going for us. In one more year, Erin and I would be off to graduate school somewhere and Erin would have two years of teaching 3rd grade under her belt. Playing professional baseball may sound like all fun and games, but life can be very uncertain. There's no telling when or if you'll ever make it to the major leagues. Minor league life is very tough. It's bad pay, bad hours, long bus rides, and lots of time spent away from home. However, if you do make it to the major leagues, it's all worth it. After long discussions with Erin, I decided to chase my dream! So, I'm officially a Milwaukee Brewer!
This past weekend I got on a flight to Phoenix, Arizona to start my quest towards professional baseball.
The picture above is what I am working toward! Miller Park in Milwaukee.
Monday was my first official day of professional baseball. However, it was one I wouldn't mind forgetting. The bus picked us up from our apartments at 7:30am and we were off to the practice complex. It was a day of paperwork, doctor visits, and more paperwork. Oh yeah, and more sitting around than you can imagine. We filled out all the paperwork that new employees at any company would have to fill out. Then we got extensive tests done by several physical therapists to make sure our bodies were in good shape. We got our % body fat tested. 9% for me. We learned about the MLB drug policy and then took a test on it. We took a test called an imPACT test, which is basically a benchmark by which the medical staff can judge whether a player is able to resume play following a concussion. After this, and lots of downtime in between each, we all loaded up in two vans and drove 20 minutes away to be examined by an Orthopedic Surgeon. All the tests that could have been done to examine us were previously done, we basically just went to get his signature. From there, we went to another doctors office (about 40 minutes away) for a real physical. The highlight of that was probably getting our hearts tested using an EKG (electrocardiogram). Unfortunately, one guy had strange heart activity so he went to see a Cardiologist today. Bummer. We got home at 7:45 and I ordered a pizza from Domino's because I was starving. That is basically the end of Monday.
Here is the Brewers practice facility. Inside are the locker rooms, weight room, training room, equipment room, coaches offices, and some other fun stuff.
Today is Tuesday and was our first practice. I was geared up and ready to go, but I can't remember the last time I had a practice that easy. haha no joke. They told us they just wanted to ease us in and not get anyone hurt. Didn't everyone just finish playing either a high school or college season? I dunno, I guess I don't understand. The transition from position player to pitcher is a little strange. For those of you who don't know, there's kind of a small joke among baseball players that the position players are the athletes on the field and the pitchers are just the ones who know how to throw a ball, and basically nothing else. Being a position player turned pitcher, I refuse to let people categorize me like that haha. Today, our pitching coach asked a few of us to give one word that describes us as pitchers. Some of the pitchers said, "smooth," or "dirty," but my response was quite different. I said, "athlete." That got a chuckle out of some but knowing my backround, they have to take my word for it! Personally, I have always agreed that the pitchers are the unathletic ones. It's unfortunate because that stereotype now includes me! Bummer. I'll show them! But all we did today was play easy catch, work on some fielding drills as pitchers, again very easy, and then we shagged balls during batting practice. It killed me not be up there hitting. I miss it already. But I know pitching can turn out to be great for me. We were done by 12:30 and then we headed home. We try to do everything early in the morning when it isn't as hot. But wow, it is still hot! All the coaches keep saying that this is GOOD weather! I don't understand...How can 105 degrees be good weather?!?! But apparently it's good compared to 115 degrees which it will be in July and August. Yikes. I gotta get outta here. The only way I can try to explain it is this: Imagine you're sitting in a desert without a trace of clouds in the sky. There are no trees for the sun to hide behind and not a trace of shade. Then stand right in the middle of about four of those little personal space heaters and then you will start to have a feeling of what it's like out here. IT'S HOT! All I know is, when I leave this place, I won't miss it. On a happier note, I sure do love my job. Playing baseball for money, however little it may be, is a dream come true.
This past weekend I got on a flight to Phoenix, Arizona to start my quest towards professional baseball.
The picture above is what I am working toward! Miller Park in Milwaukee.
Monday was my first official day of professional baseball. However, it was one I wouldn't mind forgetting. The bus picked us up from our apartments at 7:30am and we were off to the practice complex. It was a day of paperwork, doctor visits, and more paperwork. Oh yeah, and more sitting around than you can imagine. We filled out all the paperwork that new employees at any company would have to fill out. Then we got extensive tests done by several physical therapists to make sure our bodies were in good shape. We got our % body fat tested. 9% for me. We learned about the MLB drug policy and then took a test on it. We took a test called an imPACT test, which is basically a benchmark by which the medical staff can judge whether a player is able to resume play following a concussion. After this, and lots of downtime in between each, we all loaded up in two vans and drove 20 minutes away to be examined by an Orthopedic Surgeon. All the tests that could have been done to examine us were previously done, we basically just went to get his signature. From there, we went to another doctors office (about 40 minutes away) for a real physical. The highlight of that was probably getting our hearts tested using an EKG (electrocardiogram). Unfortunately, one guy had strange heart activity so he went to see a Cardiologist today. Bummer. We got home at 7:45 and I ordered a pizza from Domino's because I was starving. That is basically the end of Monday.
Here is the Brewers practice facility. Inside are the locker rooms, weight room, training room, equipment room, coaches offices, and some other fun stuff. 
Today is Tuesday and was our first practice. I was geared up and ready to go, but I can't remember the last time I had a practice that easy. haha no joke. They told us they just wanted to ease us in and not get anyone hurt. Didn't everyone just finish playing either a high school or college season? I dunno, I guess I don't understand. The transition from position player to pitcher is a little strange. For those of you who don't know, there's kind of a small joke among baseball players that the position players are the athletes on the field and the pitchers are just the ones who know how to throw a ball, and basically nothing else. Being a position player turned pitcher, I refuse to let people categorize me like that haha. Today, our pitching coach asked a few of us to give one word that describes us as pitchers. Some of the pitchers said, "smooth," or "dirty," but my response was quite different. I said, "athlete." That got a chuckle out of some but knowing my backround, they have to take my word for it! Personally, I have always agreed that the pitchers are the unathletic ones. It's unfortunate because that stereotype now includes me! Bummer. I'll show them! But all we did today was play easy catch, work on some fielding drills as pitchers, again very easy, and then we shagged balls during batting practice. It killed me not be up there hitting. I miss it already. But I know pitching can turn out to be great for me. We were done by 12:30 and then we headed home. We try to do everything early in the morning when it isn't as hot. But wow, it is still hot! All the coaches keep saying that this is GOOD weather! I don't understand...How can 105 degrees be good weather?!?! But apparently it's good compared to 115 degrees which it will be in July and August. Yikes. I gotta get outta here. The only way I can try to explain it is this: Imagine you're sitting in a desert without a trace of clouds in the sky. There are no trees for the sun to hide behind and not a trace of shade. Then stand right in the middle of about four of those little personal space heaters and then you will start to have a feeling of what it's like out here. IT'S HOT! All I know is, when I leave this place, I won't miss it. On a happier note, I sure do love my job. Playing baseball for money, however little it may be, is a dream come true.
Great update, Austin! Keep it up...love ya!
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