Chasing the Swinging for a chance DREAM at the big leagues By Trevor Maeder The experiences and the adversity that a player endures in the minors can help mold them into the player they can become once E very ball player dreams of playing in the they reach the majors. the big leagues, they dream of someday coming So what does differentiate between a to the plate at Fenway player who rises through the minors or stepping onto the into the big leagues and a player who mound at Wrigley. spends his whole career in the minors? Before any “At the end of Maybe a player gets bit by the injury player can accom- the day, if you bug, maybe they lack maturity or plish such lofty goals, perhaps they just simply don’t have a they must advance didn’t get bet- specific intangible that is vital to the through profession- success of a Major League player. In an interview with Sports al ’s minor ter as a player, “It’s not always the best player that gets Fighting the media on steroids Michael Quesada league system. you got worse,” to the big leagues, but the one who on July 29, he described his Journey 5.6 % of high his MLB dreams as a “grind” and a school That means understands the grind,” said Williams. Numbers baseball playing in cities Some of them never get that call “long haul”. players play at such as Pawtucket They show up and work hard, yet they The pursuit of a big According to Quesada, “pure the collegiate talent doesn’t get you by.” These state- 66 % of level or Peoria and Cedar aren’t fortunate enough to be one of the first-round Rapids or playing for teams with names like chosen few. league dream ments by Quesada have been proven picks play The Biscuits, Mud Hens, Flying Squirrels or the “At the end of the day, if you didn’t in the past and recent times. Accord- in the major Iron Pigs. get better as a player, you got worse,” said By Guy Stevenson ing to the 2007 draft statistics, through leagues the first 7 rounds only 80 out of 244 Players draft- “Everyone here wants to play in the Williams. ed in the 2nd major leagues,” said J.D. Williams, an outfielder Some guys might spend their players drafted has had a spot on their round have a for the Cedar Rapids Kernels, a Single A affiliate entire career toiling in the minors playing MLB team. 49% chance Quesada also said his weak- of playing in of the . Williams was a 10th in in Fort Wayne or Omaha, but yet they here are only 750 total roster spots T ness as more mental than anything. In the majors the lower level of the minor leagues. never quit chasing their dream. in out of the the same Interview with Sports Media 32% of play- There are many guys just like Williams, 30 teams in the MLB. There are 7,278 on Steroids J.D. Williams gave heart- ers drafted in guys that simply do everything they can to get players with minor league contracts. rounds 3-5 felt comments about the struggles of noticed, hoping that they will eventually get a “Everyone wants to be in will play in making it to the big leagues. shot. the major leagues,” J.D. Williams, an the majors “You’re going to fail more From to , outfielder for the affiliate of 20 % of than you’re use to failing in your life,” many ball players just like Williams have spent the Minnesota Twins. players drafted said Williams. in ounds 6-10 summers chasing their dream in Cedar Rapids. Players that miss out on the When asked about weakness- reach the spot on the team try to work their way es he said “ If you dont get better, you Major League up from the minor league to earn their get worse.” spot in the major leagues. For minor “Its not always the best player league players Michael Quesada and that makes it to the big leagues but Williams of the Cedar Rapids Kernels, the one who understands the grind,” it has been a long hard journey with a Williams said. lot of struggles. Source: bleacherreport.com