Mike Koplove

Emma SantosW/R#14 TA#2COMM231-0201Dec. 1, 2014Introduction

Introduction: Mike Koplove Profile

A. This story is about Mike Koplove’s baseball career from when he was five years old to Major League and the Olympics.

B. So what? The reader should care because he or she may be an athlete like

Mike Koplove, or they may have a big dream or goal like him. This story can serve as an inspiration for people who think their

goals are too big or impossible to reach. Rich story techniques

o The Wall Street Journal Formula – I used a soft/anecdotal lead, and then a specific nut graph. I included background and supporting evidence and quotes. My ending is a circle kicker because I reference all the effort he put in as the reason he made it to the Olympics.

o Sections technique – I told my story in chronological order because there was a lot of information about Koplove’s journey to the Olympics.

ASF’so PRINT: Major Moments boxo WEB: Timeline and slideshow of photos

C. Diamondback target audience Student athletes who face the most similar obstacles as Mike

Koplove Students who have big goals and dreams Students/faculty/staff who have a long journey ahead of them that

leads to their ultimate goal Student/faculty/staff who like sports, or more specifically, like

baseballD. News values

Human interest: because it is a unique story in that Mike Koplove made it to the Olympics, despite being unsure if he would even be drafted after college

Entertainent: it is sports-related Helpfulness: it can inspire people to pursue goals and dreams no

matter how impossible they may seem at first

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E. Santos W/R#14, TA#2, Koplove Intro pg. 2

E. Type of feature/soft lead: I combined anecdotal and focus-on-a-person leads

o It was descriptiveo Paints a good picture of the life of a professional baseball

playero Describes the feeling of first MLB game (feeling of

reaching goal or dream)

W’s and/or H in lead (priority): I first identified the who and the what WHO: because Mike Koplove is my profilee and this is his story WHAT: it is important for the reader to know right away that

Koplove played MLB because he dedicated his whole life to baseball

Middle/transition techniques: Because I told my story in chronological order my transitions show

a change in the time of his life.o “Five-year-old Mike…”o “After graduating high school…”o “After his sophomore year…”o “From 1998-2001…”o “After playing for the Diamondbacks…”

Type of end I used a circle kicker and referred back to all the time Mike

Koplove put into baseball. I described playing in the Olympics as an experience he achieved with all his hard work.

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E. Santos W/R#14, TA#2, Koplove Intro pg. 3

LORI/senses/strong verbs LIVELINESS

o I used active voiceo I tried to make sure my story was free of needless words

ORIGINALITYo I tried to come up with some different ways to say the same

thing

RHYTHM & SOUNDo I tried to use words beginning with the same letter for my

subheads

IMAGERY/senseso My lead engages senses, mostly sight, with the description

of Mike’s day and the description of the first time he pitched

Strong verbso Rolled, lounged, proceeded, performed, trained, recruited,

played, drafted, called, viewed

F. Readability Statistics MainbarSEO character count 50

Word count 872

Words per sentence 16.2

Sentences per paragraph 5.4

Passive voice 0%

Grade level 8.2

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E. Santos W/R#14, TA#2, Koplove Intro pg. 4

Readability Statistics Sidebar

Word count 246

Words per sentence 14.3

Sentences per paragraph 5.2

Passive voice 0%

Grade level 6.8

G. Tweet: Hours and hours of hard work led to Mike Koplove’s pro baseball career with the Arizona @Dbacks and the Olympics #success bit.lybase3411

Character count w/ hashtag and bit.ly: 136 Character count w/o hashtag and bit.ly: 112

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Emma SantosW/R#14 TA#2COMM231-0201Dec. 1, 2014Mainbar

SEO Head: Determination drives Koplove to MLB and Olympics

Mike Koplove began his life of baseball at five. He was recruited for college,

drafted into the Minor Leagues, moved up into the Major Leagues and ultimately

made Olympic Team USA. WCT: 31

Mike Koplove’s journey to MLBRelief pitcher Mike Koplove possesses the equation for success

At around 11 a.m. Mike Koplove rolled out of bed. He got breakfast and

lounged around for a few hours. He arrived at the ballpark around 2:30 in the

afternoon for a 7 p.m. game. The team would not get onto the field until later so

he and the players relaxed and talked amongst themselves. At 5 they went out to

the field and practiced for about an hour. Then they proceeded to go eat, gear up

and get ready to play. Koplove went to have the trainer stretch him out.

Sometimes he would go sit in the sauna or soak in the hot tub, or sometimes he

would sit at his locker and do a crossword puzzle. From 7-10 p.m. he was on the

field. This was a day in the life of Mike Koplove’s Major League career.

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E. Santos W/R#14, TA#2, Koplove pg. 2

Stepping onto the mound to pitch for his first Major League Baseball

game is a feeling Mike Koplove will never forget. He described seeing the

reigning National League Most Valuable Player in the batter’s box and thinking,

“Holy crap, this is really it.” For Koplove, simply getting to the Major Leagues

was a huge success, but his baseball career did not end there.

Mike makes moves

Five-year-old Mike began his journey to MLB playing tee ball in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his childhood hometown. His father performed a

large role in getting him started by sending him to baseball camp and looking for

the best instructors for lessons. Even

then, Koplove, who was mainly a

shortstop, trained everyday.

Mike always wanted to make a

career out of baseball but he was not

sure how possible it would be. Despite

his uncertainty, he consistently worked

towards improvement, while keeping in

mind the end goal.

After graduating high school,

several colleges and universities recruited him to play. Mike chose to attend

Northwestern University for its quality baseball and great education.

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Mike Koplove winds up to deliver a pitch from his unique arm slot in a game with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

E. Santos W/R#14, TA#2, Koplove pg. 3

After his sophomore year, he made the tough decision to leave NU.

Though he loved everything about the school, he was disappointed with the

baseball. The team was not doing well and the coach played

him as a fulltime pitcher without allowing him to continue

playing shortstop. Mike transferred to University of

Delaware where he was able to play both positions

throughout his junior year after which the Arizona Diamondbacks drafted him in

the 29th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball’s amateur draft.

From 1998 to 2001 Koplove moved up the rungs of the Minor League

ladder from Single-A level to AAA, the highest level in the Minor Leagues. In

September of 2001 the Diamondbacks called him up to the Major Leagues. He

played MLB for Arizona through 2005.

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E. Santos W/R#14, TA#2, Koplove pg. 4

“Holy crap, this is really it”

- Mike Koplove

Pressure to remain on top

Koplove nearly always felt the pressure to maintain his Big League status.

He never signed a contract longer than two years and therefore never felt entirely

comfortable. He viewed this as a positive. “I think [it] helped motivate me and

keep me driven and focused every time I competed or practiced,” he said.

Koplove said his positive attitude was helpful. “Just getting there was a huge

accomplishment, but being able to stay up there for three years with a very good

team and be a big contributor on that team is something I look back on with

pride,” he said. He always felt being in the Big Leagues was amazing despite the

pressure.

Called up and down

After playing for the Diamondbacks, Mike

played for several different organizations and

moved back and forth between the Major Leagues

and Triple-A. During his last year of play he was in

Camden, New Jersey with a team unaffiliated with

any Major League organization. “This is known as

independent ball, and is often a last stop for guys on their way out of the game,”

he said.

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E. Santos W/R#14, TA#2, Koplove pg. 5

Major Moments

1. Drafted in 1998

2. Played in the

Major Leagues from

2002-2005

3. Pitched for Team

USA in the 2008

Summer Olympics

and won a bronze

medal

Koplove climbs beyond

Though he was moving to and from the Major Leagues for some years,

Koplove’s baseball career was nowhere near over. As he oscillated between

leagues, he experienced his greatest achievement. “Still the thing I am most

proud of and fondest of is playing for Team USA in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing

and winning a bronze medal,” he said. He appreciated the chance to be among

the world’s most incredible athletes. In Beijing, Koplove did not allow for any

hits or runs, and he struck out six players. He and the rest of Team USA came

away with bronze medals. He felt this experience was all his efforts come to

fruition.

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Emma SantosW/R#14 TA#2COMM231-0201Dec. 1, 2014Sidebar

Koplove’s father’s passion contributes to successMike Koplove’s family is both supportive and inspired

Kenny Koplove remembers the day the Major Leagues first called his

brother up to play. He was eight years old and his family had just sat down to eat

at Olive Garden. Mike Koplove phoned his family to tell them that he was going

to San Francisco for his first MLB

trip. They left the restaurant

immediately.

Mike Koplove’s parents

divorced when he was nine years

old, but the family unit remained

strong. His father practiced with

him everyday, sent him to baseball camp and took him to the best instructors. His

mother was there for him during the more unsuccessful moments. “My mother

was always the one who was there when things were hard. Her support was

different but no less important,” he said.

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Mike Koplove releases the ball from his sidearm pitch.

E. Santos W/R#14, TA#2, Passion p. 2

Paternal passion

Mike’s devotion to baseball was an influence for his brother, Kenny.

Kenny describes baseball as being important to his family. “From the time I was

10 years old I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to play

baseball. I want to follow what my brother did, and to be honest, I want to do it

better,” he says. Mike’s successes inspired his younger brother to pursue the

same dream. “My brother was definitely an inspiration, but I would say our father

was the one that influenced us the most in our lives to play baseball,” Kenny says.

The Koplove brothers agree their support system is strong, but established and

fueled mainly by their father’s passion.

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Emma SantosW/R#14 TA#2COMM231-0201Dec. 1, 2014Background

A. Contact list Primary source

o Mike Koploveo Date(s) of interviews:

Sunday, November 23 Monday, November 24 Tuesday, November 25

o [email protected] o 480-747-0345

Secondary sourceo Kenny Koploveo Date(s) of interviews:

Tuesday, November 25o [email protected] o 267-307-5109

B. Secondary references sports-reference.com

o http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ko/ mike-koplove-1.html

baseball-reference.como http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/

2001_National_League_Most_Valuable_Player_Award Mike Koplove’s Wikipedia page

o http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Mike_Koplove#Olympics_.282008.29

Major League Baseball draft Wikipedia pageo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Major_League_Baseball_draft#Eligibility United States National Baseball Team Wikipedia page

o http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ United_States_national_baseball_team#2008:_Final_appearance_for_Olympic_baseball

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Emma SantosW/R#14 TA#2COMM231-0201Dec. 1, 2014A#3 Website Storyboard

This is the homepage. At the bottom viewers can find tabs labeled Mike Koplove (About, Relief Pitcher) Career, College, Photo Gallery, Contact

On the “About” page there is a short summary about where Mike grew up and what he achieved.

On the “Relief Pitcher” page there are two quotes from Mike about his pitching style and a picture of him.

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E. Santos W/R#14, TA#2, Storyboard p. 2

On the “Career” page there is a picture of Mike from the 2008 Olympics, a timeline of his career, and a quote about the Olympics.

On the “College” page there is a description of the two schools Mike attended and a quote. There is a picture of Mike pitching at the University of Delaware and a picture of the mascot.

The “Photo Gallery” page has all the photos of Mike. Viewers click on the arrows to go back and forth through the pictures.

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E. Santos W/R#14, TA#2, Storyboard p. 3

On the “Contact” page viewers can type their name, email, and a message to get in touch with Mike.

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A#3 Profilee: Mike KoplovePosted on 3 Minutes Ago  by esantos72014

Mike Koplove’s Journey to MLB

https://emmbrace7.wordpress.com/2014/12/01/a3-

profilee-mike-koplove/

WSJ Format

I used a soft/anecdotal lead

I used a specific nut graph

I included background and supporting evidence

and quotes.

My ending is a circle kicker because I reference all

the effort he put in as the reason he made it to the

Olympics.

Coach/Plan/Converge

I first looked Mike up on the Internet and learned

some basics about his baseball career

I searched for articles but mostly found statistics

I looked at University of Delaware for some

information

Athletic records were especially helpful

For my web profile I made a timeline so the viewer

can get a better picture of the events described in

my story

I also added a photo gallery because pictures are an

easy way for viewers to get a quick idea about my

profilee

As far as law/ethics I respected Mike’s request to refrain

from publishing a website about him.

G-O-A-L Method

GOALS

Mike knew he loved baseball from an early age

He knew he wanted to go pro

OBSTACLES

Need to transfer schools for a better team

Competitiveness of the MLB and the struggle to

maintain a Big League spot

Being sent back to the Minor Leagues

ACHIEVEMENTS

Being recruited for college

Being drafted in 1998

Moving up from the Minor Leagues to the Major

Leagues

Playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks

Playing for Team USA in the Beijing Olympics

LOGISTICS

Starting tee ball at five years old

Practicing with dad

Going to baseball camp

Playing in high school and college

Playing Minor and Major Leagues (turning point)

Team USA (major life event and end result of hard

work)

In light of Alan

Richman and

Julie Sullivan

tips, I made

sure to let Mike

know he could

refuse to

answer

questions that

made him uncomfortable.  But I also tried to ask

questions that he would enjoy answering.  I recorded all

of our conversations and paid close attention to detail.  I

fact-checked with him and with statistics sites about him.

Interviews

My interviews with Mike and his brother, Kenny, were

through e-mail as that was the method of communication

both of them felt comfortable with.  I followed up with

Mike a few times and asked more questions after

gathering information from previous answers.

Research/listen/note-take/interview

I researched some information about Mike before

my first interview with him

After his response I read through his answers a few

times and read them out loud

I took notes on details I wanted to use in my paper

Ideas

I changed the topic of my sidebar completely.  While

reading over the answers from Mike and Kenny I realized

that family played a large role in their life and baseball.

Their father was the primary influencer.

Emma SantosW/R#14 TA#2COMM231-0201Dec. 1, 2014Interview Notes

Interview #1: Mike Koplove

Where are you from? What was growing up like? What is your family like?

I was born and raised in Philadelphia. I grew up right in downtown Philadelphia so I had a very interesting childhood. I basically lived in the center of all of the most historical sections of the city so I got to experience that on a daily basis. Otherwise it was a pretty normal childhood in terms of school and friends. The other major difference was that baseball was an enormous part of my life from the time I was about 4 or 5 years old. We'd practice every day even then, even if it was just hitting off a tee in my living room with me dad.   I've got an interesting family. My parents divorced when I was 9 and both remarried so I ended up with a large group of brothers and sisters (3 sisters, 2 brothers). I lived with my mom but saw my dad every day, mainly for baseball. Everyone managed to stay close and friendly throughout though so it made family life better than a lot of other people who have gone through divorces.

When did you start playing baseball? Were you always a pitcher?

I started tee ball when I was 5. My first year I was probably a little too young and I more or less just sat in the outfield and picked dandelions out of the grass. After that year my dad sent me to a baseball camp and I came back and won league MVP and from that point on baseball became the central focus of my life. I was always a shortstop actually but I pitched a lot also.

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E. Santos W/R#14, TA#2, Koplove Interview 1 Notes p. 2

What was your college experience like? Were you recruited to play? What did you study in college? I read that you attended both Northwestern University and the University of Delaware, why did you transfer?

My college experience was really great. I was initially recruited by a bunch of schools but I thought Northwestern provided me the best mix of quality baseball and a really good education. Plus I fell in love with the school and town (Evanston, IL.) as well as Chicago when I visited and knew it was the right spot. I think I had a good balance of fun and seriousness at NU. The academics were challenging which meant I couldn't go wild but that wasn't really my nature anyway. I majored in psychology and transferred to U. of Delaware after my sophomore year. It was a tough decision and I really did not want to leave NU because I loved everything about it there other than the baseball. The team wasn't good and I wasn't playing as much shortstop as I wanted (I'd basically been converted to a full time pitcher by the coach there my sophomore year) so I left and when to UD to be able to continue to play shortstop as well as pitch. UD was great also but in a different way. I had a much easier time with classes so I was able to enjoy other aspects of college life a little more. I loved my time there even though it was only one year, after which I was drafted.

Did you always want to make a career out of baseball?

I did but I really didn't know how legitimate of a possibility that really was. I thought I could potentially get drafted but I didn't really know if I was truly good enough to make it to the Major Leagues. I really didn't figure that out until two or three years into my professional career.

What does it mean to be a relief pitcher? I read that your arm slot was unconventional.  What did that mean in terms of advantages and how you were used?  Why lead to you throwing that way?

It means I am one of the guys that comes in later in the game when the starting pitcher either gets tired or gets into trouble and someone else is brought in to bail him out. I was also a starting pitcher until pro baseball at which point my "unconventional" arm slot led to me becoming a reliever. By unconventional I think it means that I was a sidearm pitcher. This allowed me to throw from a spot different than most pitchers, which makes it a bit trickier for hitters to pick up the ball. It also can make the ball move more and in different ways that traditional pitchers do which provides me with another potential advantage. I had thrown like that my whole life, just kind of messing around in the back yard and then taking it into games. I never did it exclusively though. It was always just another thing I did to try to get hitters out.

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E. Santos W/R#14, TA#2, Koplove Interview 1 Notes p. 3Keys to your success? 

I think obviously an extraordinary amount of hard work was put into whatever successes I had in baseball. Hours and hours a day from a very young age went into it. In addition I think I was very driven to succeed and despite not always enjoying the work I was putting in while other kids my age were doing things that were more fun I did it anyway because I recognized it was necessary.

What/who do you think helped you get to where you are?

Both of my parents were incredibly instrumental. My dad put in countless hours with me himself as well as taking me to all the best instructors he could find. His passion for it and complete commitment were the biggest things that got me where I was. In addition my mother was always the one who was there when things were hard. Her support was different but no less important. 

Did you ever struggle or lose hope? Low moments? I definitely had struggles. It is impossible not to in baseball. Even in college there were times that I didn't have a ton of success. But it was a learning curve and I think I just continued to get better. The players are better in pro ball so you are bound to have bad days but I think I always had a really good ability to put that behind me and be better the next time out. There were a ton of low moments. Any time I got called into the manager's office to be told I was not going to make the MLB team and would be going back to AAA it was always crushing. But there was always the hope of getting back to the top that continued to drive me and pretty much any other guy I was playing with.

Greatest moments? Time where you felt you were living the dream? Biggest accomplishments?

Each time I got called up to the Big Leagues was amazing. The first time pitching in an MLB game in San Francisco is a feeling I'll never forget. I think the first time I stepped on that mound and saw the reigning National League MVP in the batters box was the one moment when I felt like holy crap this is really it. Just getting there was a huge accomplishment but being able to stay up there for three years with a very good team and be a big contributor on that team is something I look back on with pride. Still the thing I am most proud of and fondest of is playing for Team USA in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and winning a bronze medal. Being an Olympian wasn't even something that was ever on my radar. I never even thought it was a possibility so being chosen to do that and then be in that type of setting with all of the world's most incredible athletes just walking around it was truly awesome and something I am so grateful to have gotten to experience.

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Emma SantosW/R#14 TA#2COMM231-0201Dec. 1, 2014Interview Notes

Interview #2: Mike Koplove

During the season, what was a typical day for you? I would appreciate some description here! What was required of youWhat was your schedule like, what kind of diet did you have, what kind of workouts were you doing?   A typical day meant sleeping pretty late, usually sometime close to 10 or 11am. This was because we usually had late nights. I'd wake up, get some breakfast and hang out for a few hours before usually getting to the ballpark for a 7pm game some time around 2pm-3pm. I might kill time going to a movie or the mall or whatever but I'd get to the field no later than 3pm. We usually didn't get out on the field to start practice until around 4:30 or 5:00 so I'd hang out and talk with teammates, maybe watch some video of opposing players. Guys played a lot of cards and video games in the clubhouse or just sat around and watched TV. We'd go out on the field for batting practice as I said close to 5 and be out there for an hour or so. Then back to the clubhouse to eat, get dressed, and do whatever it took guys to get mentally ready to play. For me it was getting stretched out by the trainer, maybe going in the sauna, maybe the hot tub, maybe just sit around at my locker and do a crossword puzzle. The games usually start at 7pm and go til roughly 10. Then guys would lift weights afterwards, eat dinner, and then head home. Or out to a bar or something. It just depended on the day and how the game went and what kind of mood players were in. There was usually something going on after a game one way or another, it just depended who was willing to go out and who just wanted to call it a night. Either way bedtime was typically no earlier than 1am. Sometimes much much later!

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E. Santos W/R#14, TA#2, Koplove Interview 2 Notes p. 2

Could you give me a timeline of your career during college and after? Just with the major events like when you were drafted and how long you played for teams, etc.

1995-  Freshman year at Northwestern.1997- Transferred to Delaware.1998-  Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 19th round and spent the summer playing in Lethbridge (Alberta, Canada) in Rookie ball, which is the lowest, introductory level to pro baseball.1999- Played in South Bend, IN. at the Single-A level, the first step up the ladder.2000- Began the season in Advanced Single-A in High Desert, CA. and was shortly promoted to Double-A in El Paso Texas.2001- Began the year back in El Paso but then made it to AAA Tucson and eventually the Major Leagues with Arizona in September.2002-2005-   Spent almost all of this time playing in the Major Leagues for the Diamondbacks2006-  Back to Triple-A in Tucson for the season2007- Signed as a Free Agent with the Cleveland Indians and spent the year back and forth between the Major Leagues and AAA Buffalo.2008- Signed with the LA Dodgers and was in AAA Las Vegas the whole year, except the month August when I was in Beijing participating in the Olympics.2009- Triple-A with three different organizations, the Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Seattle Mariners.2010- Triple-A with the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres organizations.2011-  Last year playing, for a team in Camden, NJ. which was not affiliated with any Major League organization. This is known as Independent ball and is often a last stop for guys on their way out of the game.

Could you elaborate on what it means to be "called up" to the Big Leagues and going back to AAA? How does that process work?

   Getting "called up" is just the term players use for when they are promoted to the Major Leagues. This is usually from AAA but can be from AA also.  Going back to AAA is when you are sent back, or demoted from the MLB team to AAA. You can also be called up and sent down from minor league levels such as AAA to AA or A to AA. 

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E. Santos W/R#14, TA#2, Koplove Interview 2 Notes p. 3

It seems like there was a lot of pressure at times to maintain your spot in the Big Leagues. How did you deal with that?

It is just something you get used to playing as long as I did. There is always pressure to perform, even when you've been in the Major Leagues for 10 years. The only comfort you ever get is when you sign an extended contract. My longest contract was 2-years so I never got to a level when I felt comfortable. Which I think helped motivate me and keep me driven and focused every time I competed or practiced.

What are you doing now?

I am scouting professionally for the Los Angeles Angels. I don't scout college or high school players. Just guys who have already been drafted and are playing professionally. This is basically in case the Angels decide they want to trade for someone or sign a player as a free agent. I report on those guys and the team makes decisions about who they will or will not try to acquire based to some extent on my reports. 

Hobbies/interests? What is a typical day for you now?

Right now I'm in the offseason so there isn't any scouting to be done. I spend most of my days at home relaxing and playing with my two young children. The biggest perk of my job is the 3-4 month window of down time because during the season I have to travel a lot to different cities to scout games. I read a lot and still work out staying in shape but otherwise it's just hanging with the kids.

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Emma SantosW/R#14 TA#2COMM231-0201Dec. 1, 2014Interview Notes

Interview #3: Mike Koplove

That time at home sounds great.  You mentioned you have two children.  How old are they?  Are you married?  If so, when did you and your spouse meet/get married?

My kids are 3 and a half and 2. The older is a girl and the younger a boy. I'm married. Actually met my wife at a teammate's wedding. We were both in the bridal party.

Part of my project is to create a storyboard for what could be a real website.  With your permission I could actually create the website.  However, it would be live and available for virtually anyone to look at. Would you be comfortable with that?

I'd rather the information not go onto a website if that's not an issue. I don't like any more info than need be on the Internet. I don't even have a Facebook page!

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Emma SantosW/R#14 TA#2COMM231-0201Dec. 1, 2014Interview Notes

Interview #1: Kenny Koplove

How old you were, where he was in his career at that time?

I have a very vivid memory of when my brother was first called up to the Major Leagues. It was 2001, and I was 8 years old. My family was eating at Olive Garden when my brother called my dad and said he was heading to San Francisco to for his first MLB trip. We left Olive Garden immediately and did not even eat our food. I did not really know what was going on but I was very disappointed that we didn't get to eat. I did not understand the baseball minor league system at this time but I knew whatever that just had happened was a big deal. 

What did Mike's devotion to baseball mean for you and your family? You play for Duke Baseball now. Was your brother an influence/inspiration for you?

Baseball has always been a very big deal to the men in my family. My Dad taught my brother and I both how to play from when we were very young. For my brother, my dad was just using baseball as a way to assist him to get into college with some athletic scholarship. But my brother was lucky enough to get drafted and play baseball beyond college. That kind of paved the way for me. Since I was very young I played baseball and always followed my brothers lead. From the time I was 10 years old I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to play baseball. I wanted to follow what my brother did and to be honest, I want to do it better. Their is not a competition between my brother and myself because now that my brother has finished playing he helps me every opportunity that he can. My brother was definitely an inspiration but I would say our father was the one that influenced us the most in our life to play baseball. 

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