- January 2019
Personal Statement
Baseball has always been an important aspect of my life. Since I was a young boy, I have always spent every day at the ballfield. As a child, I moved four times and attended eight different schools. I understand what it is like to not know anyone, and I pride myself on being a great communicator and friend. I am lucky, however, for these, experiences have allowed me to meet and interact with a diverse group of people and develop my baseball career by exposing me to different styles and opinions on the game. However, in my family, academics are more important than baseball, as it should be. Focusing on my academics, I have been able to accelerate into senior division mathematics classes at Kent State University. I am very fortunate to have been given many athletic and intellectual gifts. I have used my gifts to help my teammates and classmates. Trying to relieve the burden of standardized testing, I have created a free tutoring service for those around me. I focus on being a leader. I always try to set a good example for my classmates. I always set time aside to teach an underclassman the right way to do something. I have also learned that the game of baseball is more than just measurables. A team needs certain unquantifiable qualities to succeed. A team needs to have chemistry and a love for the game. I have devoted the past six years of my life to becoming a better student and athlete by converting our basements into gyms and batting cages and finding new ways to become a better student in the classroom. As a catcher, I am defense-oriented with a focus on blocking and being a field general. Measurables, however, are still important. The past two years, I have worked hard to cut my pop time from a 2.6 to a 1.9-2.1 average. I have also worked on my speed by decreasing my 60 from 7.8s to 7.0s. Hitting has never been an issue for me. With the eyes of a catcher, I find it easy to predict and see the ball. I generally am a backside hitter who fills the Left center Right center and Right foul line gaps. I have dedicated a large portion of my life to becoming a serious baseball player. I have always wanted to play baseball in college, and I wish to do so while maintaining my academic career.
