Okay, I wanted to post this as soon as possible. Unfortunately, we didn't get back to Reggio until about 6 am. I was exhausted. If I was able to post this right away, it would have been filled with emotion and excitement. Here's why.
Yesterday, as you know, we traveled to Rome for a double header. It was about a six hour journey. After a few stops for food and watching an Italian dubbed Taken, we arrived. For most of the ride there, I was extremely excited. I was finally able to play because I had received my passport. I was anxious to get on the field again. The last time I played baseball was in Brooklyn for my last college game.
Yesterday also marked the "popping" of my amateur bubble. I was going to become a professional athlete. For my whole entire life, it was a life long dream to play professionally. When I was younger, clearly it was to be a major league baseball player. Either way, I am getting payed to play the game I love. Better yet, I get to play it in Europe. The excitement kept growing.
When we arrived at the field, we went into the clubhouse, got dressed, stretched, and took bp. My adrenaline was now pumping. It was like a dream. I had been through this regiment time and time again, but this time it was different. It was special. It marked the climax in my baseball career.
I was slotted to catch the first game and bat seventh. I was just happy to be in the lineup. I knew I had to prove myself and my worth to the organization, or society as they call them here. The game began, and I started to feel some nerves. Nothing overwhelming, just the pressures of impressing my teammates and coaches. I knew I had what it took to compete at this level, and I was excited to get out there.
The first inning went by, and I was slotted to bat 3 in the second inning. I wanted to get a hit in my first professional at bat in the worst way. I knew batting seventh I would get a first pitch fastball. Normally, I am a patient hitter, but for this at bat, I decided to be aggressive. I stepped to the plate, took my practice swing, and stepped in the box. I had guessed right, and the pitcher grooved a fastball middle in. I took a good swing, and hit a hard ground ball up the middle. I had a hit in my first professional at bat. When I got to first, I smiled.
My next at bat didn't go as well, as the pitcher fooled me with a changeup. I hit a weak ground ball to third. In the field that inning, Rome's leadoff hitter got on. I knew he was going to run. He was one of the their foreign players, from the Dominican Republic. On the third pitch, he took off. The hitter swung through the pitch, and I threw a seed down to second. He was out by 5 feet. They didn't run on me the rest of the day.
In my third at bat, I was starting to feel comfortable. The bases were loaded and we were tied. I went back to my roots, and started being selective. I managed to work out a 9 pitch walk. I was pleased. The next at bat, on a 1-0 count, I ripped a double in the left center gap. I felt great at the plate. I thought it couldn't get any better. It did.
Both teams were going blow for blow, taking the lead and then losing it. By the time the ninth rolled around, it was 12-12. I was set to bat second in the top of the ninth. The first hitter popped up to right field. I knew how important it was for me to get on. All I thought about was doing whatever I could to get on base. The third basemen was playing the line, and way back on the edge of the grass. I knew that if I could get a bunt down I would easily be safe. I showed bunt, but the pitch was way outside. Ball one. The third basemen moved in, so I changed my game plan. I just wanted a base hit up the middle. I was sitting on a fastball, with the count in my favor at 1-0. I got my fastball, and my eyes lit up. It was about belt high, right down the middle. I took a good, hard swing, and never felt the ball off my bat. I knew right away that it was gone. I looked up, and saw the ball soaring over the left center field fence. I had put the team ahead. As I rounded the bases and came home, my teammates waited for me. I stepped on home plate, got congratulated (with a few sarcastic comments about my size), and went into the dugout. I started putting my gear, on sat down on the bench, and smiled.
We went on to put up a couple more runs that inning, and then closed it out in the ninth for the win. It was a great battle, and we had come out on top. I ended up finishing the day 3-5. I couldn't believe how the game had went. I couldn't have scripted it any better. It reminded me why I came out here to pursue this dream in the first place. At that moment, I thought about all the people who had supported me throughout my journey. My family, my friends, and my past and present teammates. It was the greatest game of my life, and I had done it as a professional.
The next game was a blow out. I went 2-4 on the day with a couple of rbis. With two wins in the bag, we got on the bus, got some pizza in Rome at midnight, and started the journey home. As I closed my eyes to go to sleep, I reflected on the day that had come to an end. It was a long day full of baseball, and I wouldn't want it any other way.
Again, I want to thank everybody that has been there for me throughout this journey. Without all of you, especially my parents, I wouldn't have been able to accomplish what I did yesterday. I hope to have a great rest of the year, but nothing will be as special as my first professional game.
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