Baseball is in my blood. From the first time that I set foot on a mound, I felt I discovered something special. I was eight years old, standing in a field at Inwood, playing with kids two to three years older than me. Even though I did not have any experience pitching, I was able to strike them out and it would be a moment I would never forget. From that time on, I knew I wanted to pursue baseball.
Over the years, baseball has taught me many lessons. In my sport confidence is important because it helps play at my best level. When I lack confidence, I get nervous which causes me to make mistakes. Through my commitment to the sport, I have also learned to be patient, and a team player. I can apply what I have learned to other aspects of my life, like my schoolwork. I know it takes commitment to my schoolwork in order to perform at a high level just like baseball. When I first started, I took ownership of myself and my training since my dad could not afford it. Since then, I have taken learning about the sport into my own hands by watching videos and reading about baseball techniques that will improve my weaknesses in order to become a better player.
I am a pitcher, in order to be a pitcher you need to have a strong arm, be agile, have the ability to call plays on a field, but you especially need to work hard and be committed. Every week I dedicate three to four days to baseball to increase my strength and agility with the goal to be the best player I can be. Another way in which I am committed is that I participate in travel baseball teams during the summer. I go to baseball academies in the Dominican Republic and I play for different travel baseball teams. Playing with other teams has taught me to be unafraid to meet and interact with new people. I have found this to be beneficial as interacting with many kids within a classroom setting can sometimes be nerve wrecking, but through baseball, I have overcome this fear. This dedication to learning has taught me that if you work hard in life you can succeed in anything you do.
My high school experience was like no other. I was accepted into Beacon high school in New York City. I was there during my freshman year of high school which wasn’t the best experience due to the fact that Covid and quarantine played a big role that year. I was doing school online and decided to join the baseball team. After my year at Beacon which I am thankful for, for the next 3 years of my life I went down south to South Carolina and joined a Baseball Boarding school called P27. I was offered half a scholarship and joined the program from my sophomore year all the way until my senior year of high school. Being there allowed me to experience a better level and competition of baseball. There were some ups and downs while being there, I got injured my sophomore year and wasn’t able to throw for about 6 months. Even though I wasn’t able to throw, I learned how to do things properly such as lifting, taking care of my body, my arm, and eating properly. I came back the next year for my junior year and due to my progress after coming back from my injury I was the team’s starting pitcher my junior year. During my senior year I was converted to being a reliever/closer. I met a bunch of great friends that I still get along with today, some are at some of the top schools in the nation and some got drafted. I am very grateful to attend the top baseball school in the country. I now plan to study business management remotely as I try to accomplish my dreams and get signed in the Dominican republic.