Joshua Mansfield '17 Recruiting Profile

Baseball has been a part of my life since early childhood; my abilities as a player have developed throughout the years, but baseball has also developed me into the person I am today. As a passionate baseball player, I recognize that having the opportunity to compete cannot be taken for granted; a fact I learned first hand sophomore year when a stress fracture left me sidelined during the football season. Instead of sitting idly on the bench, I turned my frustration into action, raising money for the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA), which gives people with physical disabilities the chance to play sports. By channeling my eagerness to get back on the field, I managed to balance my time and energy to play both wide receiver for my high school football team, and shortstop for my club team. My club team, the DTA Wildcats, made it to the championship of the Illinois DSP World Series, which helped build my endurance for high-intensity competition, and my resilience to tough losses given that my team lost in extra innings.

I am motivated for this year’s upcoming season, and I feel my experiences thus far have prepared me not only to excel as player, but to also excel in my role as an energizing member of my team. I take my role as a student athlete seriously, and I believe that showing consistency both on and off the field is what shapes good players into the best players. By excelling as a student and as a player, I feel I am prepared to handle the challenges, and surpass the expectations asked of college athletes. Given the opportunity to play college baseball, I would bring my character, drive, and leadership to the team because my passion for the sport has always been a part of my life, and it will continue to motivate me to strive for excellence.