That Time of the Year Again

[boyinr]

It’s the week of the last regular season games.  Some of these kids I have know for 6 years.  Developed good relationships with a few (mostly catchers). It’s always good to reflect on back on things. 

[MadMax]

11 hours ago, boyinr said:

Some of these kids I have know for 6 years.

… and in some cases (fewer than most, granted), some of Us get to see them in college, college summer wood bat, independent pro, or adult amateur the next year! 

There was one memorable “kid”… it was 2014 I was still operating out of Wisconsin, and I did a 16U “academy-league” game. This tall, stocky F3 was somewhat conversational, and I bantered with him all game. Good kid, good effort, a bit in that pudgy rectangular side. I’m from an athlete/coach’s family, and I had witnessed the awkwardness of my own younger brother growing, like, seven inches in one teenage summer (no joke, he’s 6’5”). My brother, too, played F3 and I think I might have mentioned it. I know I told him my “famous” F4’s-Are-Oddballs story. 

Well, fast forward to 2019, and I’m a CC in the NWL, and when calling a game for one of the Wisconsin-based clubs, who should jog out to F3? This same kid! And he ain’t this pudgy kid any more… he’s 6’4”, and pretty buff. 
Well, he played for that club for 3 more years, and transferred up to D-1 during that time. Even won the HR Derby for NWL in 2021. Every game I had with him, we’d catch up. 

He’s now in MiLB. Even saw him in Phoenix “on campus”. Heh, kids.