Personal Statement

    My love for baseball started early, hitting wiffle balls with my Dad in the foyer when I was two and playing tee-ball when I was three.  From the beginning I have strived to play at the next level.  The opportunity to be a student-athlete on a competitive college baseball program is that next level for me.  That early love for the game is still there, but it has evolved as I’ve gotten older into a commitment to what it takes to be part of a successful team.  I’m no longer satisfied with just playing baseball with friends; I now have a need to compete on a team with serious baseball players that share a level of commitment similar to mine.

    I’ve spent time talking and listening to college coaches and former players, and I think I have a good understanding of both the rewards and the sacrifices that go with being a college baseball player.   I know the relationships I build with teammates and coaches will last a lifetime and I can’t think of anything cooler than the dog-pile after a college championship.   But I also know it comes at the price of a huge time commitment to both the team and the extra work that it takes to be successful, which is above and beyond the time it takes to excel as a student.  I’m willing to make the smart choices to avoid any pitfalls that would take me off track of my goal to be a successful student-athlete. 

    I am constantly working on my game, practicing hitting in my backyard batting cage and pitching off my homemade mound.  I understand the importance of practice reps, but I always seek out more effective and healthy mechanics so that my practice consists of quality reps.  For example, I train in the Delivery Value System, which has improved the mechanical efficiency of my pitching delivery to increase my performance and reduce the risk of injury.   I am a quiet leader and let my actions guide and encourage my teammates.  Although I am outwardly humble, I have an inner-arrogance that drives a belief in myself and what I can accomplish.  I am very coachable and seek to work harder than my peers both on the field and in the classroom, where I maintain a high GPA in multiple honors level classes.