Too late to have a baseball dream?

Question
Hi, I'm Raymond. I'll give a short introduction on myself. I'm one of the weakest kids in school, and so far, have shown little athletic ability. I'll explain.

My athletic ability isn't too superb. My pediatrician told my parents from an early age that I have weak endurance, and that I should train to improve it (which I JUST STARTED, after over 10 years). He stressed the fact that I could reach even a professional swimmer's endurance/oxygen capacity, but it would take effort.

Meanwhile, since I was a little nerd throughout most of my childhood (haha, I'm still a child, so it's awkward to say that), and therefore, I am weak everywhere. I've trained hard nad reduced my mile time to seven minutes, but other than that, my weak arm makes me below average in throwing ability (as seen when I play dodgeball). I don't have basketball talents either. I can shoot free throws as well as anyone else, but when the actual game starts, and I'm moving around, I miss every ball.

However, I remember playing tennis a year ago. The coach told me that although my strength was weak, my hand-eye coordination was quite impressive considering I was a beginner.

So you get the point, right? I'm WEAK.

Please take me seroiusly. I'm not joking. If you believe in God, then let me say this: it was as if God gave me a revelation. Two weeks ago, while watching a MLB game, it just came upon me, like an epiphemy/revelation, that that was EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED TO DO. I never actually decided what to do for my career in the past, and have never felt such a strong desire/confirmation like what i experienced. I thought, "Oh, it's just a compulsion that will go away," but my baseball fever hasn't disappeared for two weeks now.

In short, I think it is time that I heed my "vision," and at the very very least TRY to be professional at baseball.

Is it possible at all, Mr. Bundy, that I can, starting this late with no baseball experience, train HARD (two hours or more a day), catch up to everyone else, and train even harder, and eventually make it at least to college baseball (MLB comes after that)? YES, I KNOW. It will be an amazingly difficult road, and starting very late doesn't put me in a good position either. However, I KNOW THE VALUE OF EFFORT. I know that there is no greater aid to improving than effort. And I am DETERMINED TO PUT MY BEST INTO BASEBALL, NO MATTER HOW LATE I STARTED.

Well, that's enough for my passionate speech. Mr. Bundy, is it possible that I can, with painful practice, become a MLB player?

Aside from the above questions, I agree that, MLB is a beautiful long-term goal, but not a short-term goal. As for right now, what should I do? Join Little League (am I eligible for it?)? Lift weights? Endurance training?

Also, do you know some basic baseball exercises I can do? I want to be a pitcher, by the way.

Thank you. I really appreciate it.

Answer
Raymond:  Thank you for your question.

Little League Eligibility:

Tee Ball Age 5-9

Minors   Age 7-12

Majors   Age 9-12

Junior   Age 13-15

Senior   Age 14-17

Big League Age 16-18

The programs and ages above are recommended by Little League Baseball; local availability may vary.  Ages overlap and are often under the discretion of the local board.

You have come upon a lofty goal for yourself, at least statistically.  You should be aware that there are 30 MLB teams, for a total of 750 active players, at any given point in the season.  The percentage is somewhere close to 1% of those that start out in baseball, ever reach the major leagues.  Around 7% of high school players play college baseball.  As you can see, the slope is steep.

So, does that mean an individual should just say it can't happen?  Our society wouldn't have advanced as it has if everyone took that approach.  Maybe the best current example would be President Obama.  The odds faced in his situation were much greater indeed.

Baseball is not so much about the destination as it is about the journey.  Focus on the process and the results take care of themselves.  That same process will serve you well in any endeavor you pursue throughout your life, personal or occupational.

You have already taken a big step, you identified a destination.  The next step is to build a road map of how you plan to get there.

You realize you lack physical strength, and that will be a major component in your journey.  Begin with a strength program.  It sounds like you are still in school, look into a weight lifting program there.  If you have, or have had health issues previously, check with your physician to see if there would be any restrictions on what you should take on.  With a medical clearance, you can jump in and get started.

Take advantage of the knowledge and skills of the individual running the program to help set you up in a beneficial program.  They will be able to evaluate where you are now, and put you on track to get moving forward.

Should there be no program available in your school, look to the community options available.  You will gain more from an organized program than you will from attempting to start on your own, particularly from a ongoing motivational standpoint.

Join a summer baseball league and start playing.  Your school most likely has a summer baseball program, possibly fall and winter also.  If you haven't already been in their program, that may have to wait until you can tryout, next year.

You have made good progress on your running time.  It is that type of effort that will serve you well as you step off into this journey.

Beyond the physical requirements that are needed to play competitive baseball, at any level, there is a great deal of talent required on the mental game portion of this very special game.  As a player progresses upward, level to level, the mental side of a players game is the seperator for those that continue on and those whose playing journey has come to an end.

This last point puts us at another fork in the road.  Was the journey all about playing major league baseball, or did it go deeper than that, to a love for all baseball is about?

Two years ago, our high school team was state runner up, a baseball talented group of kids.  Off of that team, there is one pitcher currently playing in the Washington Nationals organization, and two additional players competing at the college level.  However, within that roster was a player who may have had a greater desire to play the game, than any other individual on that roster.  He worked as hard or harder than anyone else, did all the workouts and was a true student of the game.  Due to the difference in physical baseball talent, he played very little at the varsity level; but his love for the game itself was something special.

He started college to become an athletic trainer.  His love of baseball connected him to their baseball team as a student trainer.  We are fortunate here to have spring training in town, and he was down there at every opportunity, just hanging out.

He managed to work into a bat boy for a day situation with the Colorado Rockies, and then into a visiting clubhouse manager for spring training.  That has turned into the same position for this season, and he has left town with them for the start of his career, running the visitors clubhouse at a major league stadium.  The really neat thing, he did this on his own.  He has put this together due to his own efforts, not because he knew someone to get his foot in the door.

My point?  If there is a burning love for baseball, that baseball fever thing, you never know where that may take you, and to what level.  There is a tremendous amount of opportunity in baseball, if someone wants to be, or stay, around the game.  Playing is only a small fraction of the opportunities available.

For myself, my affiliation with the Arizona Diamondbacks' Training Centers has provided me with access to opportunities I never believed I would have.  Coaching high school baseball has provided me a way to stay with the game, while at the same time giving something back, for all those that gave to me.

Build your skills from the ground up, a solid base.  Throwing, receiving, hitting, base running, situations.  If you have no previous playing experience, I suggest you start with throwing and receiving.  It is a skill you wil need to be proficient in, both to be able to play and for your own safety and comfort level within the game.  My website, www.theoleballgame.com has some information you may find beneficial as you move forward.  

Good luck with your journey!  I believe you will receive more back from baseball, than you will have put into it.  Create the map, set the goals, write them down and put them where you can see them every day, then start putting one foot in front of the other.

Abraham Lincoln said, "I walk slow; but I never walk backwards."

Yours in baseball,

Rick