My story
I started playing baseball at 7. I was a slightly above average youth baseball player. When I was 12, a doctor told me my shoulder was messed up and I should never try to pitch again. Fast forward to high school. In the 9th grade, several of my classmates made varsity. Not me. As a sophomore, even more of my friends were getting playing time with the varsity squad. I was demoted to the JV B-team. Halfway through that year, at the request of my dad who was embarrassed for me, I told the coaches I’d like to try pitching. We figured I had nothing to lose. I was more of an academic kid anyways. I wanted so badly to play college baseball but figured I’d never get the chance. Still I worked as though it was a certainty. Fast forward a year and a half and I signed my national letter of intent to play at the University of Arkansas.
When I got to campus, I was the worst pitcher on the team. At the end of fall scrimmages the coaching staff had everyone on the team rank all pitchers and position players. I was #23 out of 23 total pitchers according to my teammates. Once again I put my head down and got to work. I pitched 5 innings in mop up duty my freshman year. By my sophomore year I led the league in ERA against other SEC teams. No one was better in league play. I dealt with back problems at the end of that year and into the next. Scouts that had been talking about drafting me in round 3 were now talking about drafting me on day 3. That's exactly where I ended up going. Round 17 to the Chicago Cubs. It was everything I had ever wanted, but in that moment I felt overlooked yet again.
I lost my entire first year of pro ball to back problems but bounced back with a solid 2019 split between rookie ball and the now defunct short season A. I lost 2020 to covid. Coming back in 2021 was the first time anyone in the organization took an interest in me. During a game in spring training, Craig Breslow (the director of pitching at the time and now the GM of the Red Sox) told my pitching coach to take a mound visit mid-inning and tell me to throw sidearm. I struck out the next 3 batters.
armslot at the start of spring '21
"tell him to throw sidearm" game '21
The pitching department gave me two objectives for 2021: rework my mechanics to throw sidearm 100% of the time and develop a new arsenal of pitches. I was able to accomplish both but not before creating rotator cuff and labrum problems that would come back to haunt me. It turns out that trying to make massive mechanical changes during the season and experimenting with something new every game isn’t great for arm health. Who knew?
Trying to figure it out '21
still trying '21
By 2022 I was one of a handful of relievers in the organization getting buzz about possibly debuting soon. However, I spent much of the year on the IL with the aforementioned shoulder issues. This would become a trend. In 2023 I was off to a great start with an ERA under 1.00 in AA when my shoulder started acting up again. On the tail end of what would have been a 3 week IL stint, things took a wild turn. I passed out, fell over my heels, hit my head, broke my skull, had a stroke, lost all hearing in my left ear (I’m still deaf on my left side), and spent 5 days between the ICU and brain trauma unit.
Closing games '22
Closing postseason games '22
Staying positive 3 days post brain injury '23
After I relearned how to walk, I got back to work. I came into 2024 determined to make it to the Show. All three of my pitches graded out above Major League average. I struck out 36 batters in 22.2 innings, but I had no clue where the ball was going. Come to find out, I was pitching on a torn labrum and rotator cuff. The Cubs paid for surgery and sent me on my way. That's where we are now. I’m crushing rehab and eyeing a return for spring training 2026 with whoever signs me. Being the eternal optimist, my thoughts go something like “If I could pitch like that hurt, imagine what I'll be able to do healthy.”
Ripping sliders '24
Ripping fastballs too '24
That's my story. Tons of ups and downs. Such is baseball. Such is life. I trust that God has a plan for me. If I never play again, I want to leave an impact on future generations of pitchers. I love the game, and I have a passion for helping guys reach their goals. It's never easy, but nothing worth doing is.
Much love,