D3baseball.com Daily Dose

As the article is published on D3baseball.com, I am putting the complete text here from Eric’s dispatch.

By Eric Smolin

I would like to thank all of the D-III Baseball supporters. The kind words and encouragement throughout the past 6 months have been extraordinary and have continued to motivate me as the upcoming season is approaching quickly. D-III ballplayers are going to start making waves throughout baseball; I hope you’re all there to continue with that support.

My baseball career went through several major obstacles. I was part of a Northeast-10 Championship team at U-Mass Lowell, as the starting left fielder and a dominant closer as a freshman. Unfortunately, I developed a stress fracture by the end of that season and my head coach was dismissed for unforeseen purposes and the assistants left soon after. The fall of my sophomore year, I was to be coached to by someone who I already had a very tumultuous relationship with. After the last day of fall practice, still not fully recovered from the stress fracture, the coach dropped the news that our baseball relationship was not on the same page and he cut me from the team I had already established myself at.

I decided that transferring would be my best option. Knowing that my arm might never recover to its full strength, it was time to find somewhere that provided me with a great academic framework, as well as a constantly competitive baseball team. Matt LaBranche, the Head Coach at Western New England College (WNEC), was absolutely the most pivotal figure in my decision to transfer. WNEC not only provided the Sport Management major in the School of Business, but it also had that “up and coming” team with new great facilities.

In the three seasons at WNEC, the team established new marks of wins in a season, captured two league titles, and participated in two NCAA Regionals. Several personal achievements I received included: League Tournament MVP, two time All-Conference Team honors, New England Region Pitcher of the Year, and 2nd Team All-American honors.

Fortunately enough, these team and personal honors attracted some scouts attention. The draft came and passed without my name being called. I can still remember the look on my parents faces when they thought my playing career was over. They contributed so much time and money to help me pursue every kids dream.

Six days later, I answer my phone to a number I’ve never seen before. What I heard on the other line I thought had to be some sick practical joke. Gene Schall, the Philadelphia Phillies Northeast Region Scout was that voice on the other line. Everything he said I just responded with “Yes” and “Absolutely”. He notified me that someone will be showing up to my house the next morning with a contract to play with the Phillies organization. He also told me that I should pack because my flight was hours after I signed the contract.

I found myself alone on a plane for the first time twenty-four hours after that phone call. I was going to Clearwater, Florida to play baseball for three months with newly drafted players and also newly signed free agents.

I got to my room at the Buena Vista Hotel, my new one star home for the next few months, and met my roommate. Travis d’Arnaud, the 37th Overall pick, and highly regarded high school catcher from Lakewood, California. I felt right at home with Travis. Having grown up in California, we shared similar interests and often had way too much fun doing nothing.

We arrived at the ballpark the next day and had to run through the standard physical and other medical work. We also had a meeting with the coaches about what was expected of us. We were informed that we had to wear collared shirts and khaki shorts or pants everyday to the complex. I soon realized that I needed to buy a few shirts, and a bicycle since the walk from the hotel was a little over a mile in the sweltering heat.

The next day, we met all of the players and coaches. This process is always interesting since everyone is trying to size themselves up. Travis and I immediately became friendly with Justin DeFratus, another California grown pitcher. Justin was known in the locker room for something called “The Face” which was somewhat monkey-like and might have been the ugliest face I’ve ever seen. I had the pleasure of seeing it everyday since his locker was next to mine.

We were all very similar, and loved the fact that we could delay the real world by at least a few years. We would go down to the pool, buy as many toys as possible and have a day of fun. Little kids knew we were ballplayers and were always trying to play catch with us. So we bought the toys to keep the kids occupied while their parents laughed and enjoyed that we were taking time to talk and play with them.

Over the next few weeks, more of the draftees were finally finishing up their contract negotiations. The group of guys got increasingly more ridiculous, as we were more comfortable with each other. The English speaking players began talking to the Spanish speaking players and helping them with their English. Obviously, we taught them how to hit on girls once we were secluded from the coaching staff.

Heiter Correa and Jesus Sanchez were the Spanish players I got closest to. Correa was Brazilian, trilingual and a horse of a 17 year-old. He was already consistently throwing low-90’s. Sanchez, a 19 year-old Venezuelan catcher, was part of the Bobby Abreu trade to the New York Yankees from the Phillies. Correa helped us teach the Spanish players common phrases and sayings to help them along in the upcoming seasons.

Travis, Justin and I were the few that stayed at the Buena Vista. We felt no need to find an apartment, plus the maid cleaning our beds and bathroom was an added plus. A few more players came in a couple weeks after we got there. Jacob Diekman and Jiwan “King” James were the two that meshed into the group.

Diekman, a southpaw from Nebraska, was the joker of our group. He was also the most successful being promoted to the Short-Season Williamsport Crosscutters to finish the season. Jiwan was a pitcher-outfielder out of nearby Williston, Florida. He declined a scholarship to Florida to play football to join the Phillies.

Surprisingly enough, I found myself with four highly drafted guys, no older than 20, that got significant signing bonuses. My signing bonus was minimal and I was so pumped when I received that check that could allow me to buy food for the months I was at school finishing my degree. I couldn’t imagine receiving a check that allowed me to buy a new $50,000 car. The monthly pay for everyone is much to be desired, and often is the biggest misnomer people have when it comes to professional baseball. Not until you make the 40 man roster do you actually see an income that you could live on.

Playing baseball for a living is tougher than people think. The game mentally grinds your mind. The first two months of the season, my arm was sore and I felt like I didn’t belong there. The final month, my arm revitalized itself and I began throwing lights out. My velocity reached a consistent 93, whereas it has been at 88 the previous two months.

The experience from all of this will last me a lifetime. I will go into Spring Training in March and try to reestablish myself and prove that we D-III guys belong. The success of Jordan Zimmerman, Jimmy Dougher and others has shown that the very best of D-III can compare with those of DI and DII.