| 22 June 2011
A few weeks ago, an e-mail popped up in my inbox. As it read, an old buddy of mine named Mike McCarthy had been named College Baseball’s National Pitcher of the Week. Obviously that’s a pretty high honor for anyone, but considering Mike’s background, it’s all the more impressive.
I’ve known Mike for close to two years now, after spending time working with one of his summer league teams. From the start you could tell Mike was different than most of the other guys on the team, and that’s not an insult to anyone involved. While most everyone else (including, too often, myself) was concerned with letting loose and having a good time when the games were done (like any guy in his early 20’s would), Mike was always sitting back, reflecting and thinking about stuff besides baseball. He was wise beyond his years, and whenever you had a conversation with him, you always felt smarter after when done speaking with him, than you were before. Our birth certificates may say that I’m older than him, but I always came away from our conversations as if he taught me something, rather than the other way around.
Anyway, after that first e-mail about the award, he and I began speaking quite extensively; about his time at Cal-State Bakersfield, their shot at a first ever NCAA Baseball Tournament berth, and the upcoming MLB Draft. And when Mike was drafted by the Red Sox two weeks ago, I knew I had to somehow get him involved in this site. My only goal here is to provide unique and quality sports content, and I had no doubt Mike would bring that.
So for the next few weeks, Mike will be keeping a journal for this site. Today he’ll talk about his rise as an under-recruited high school player, to his transfer to Cal-State Bakersfield (which just added Division I baseball three years ago), and how he used his own birthday money to support the team when he was ineligible after arriving. From there, he’ll take us on the road with him as a minor leaguer playing up in Lowell, MA.
It’s up to Mike how often he posts, and what he chooses to talk about. This is his story, in his own words.
I’m just happy to be part of all of it.
Here’s his first entry.
"Hey Mike. You just got drafted by the Boston Red Sox!"
Louis Cazares told me this two weeks ago yesterday. While it was exciting to hear I also didn't understand the magnitude of what had happened until I began to reflect on things a few days later. Here is a brief rundown of what happened to lead to this event.
In high school I was a good student, part of the leadership class and played baseball along with a few other sports (Cross Country and Basketball). I threw 44 innings my sophomore year on varsity and played centerfield. Before the start of my junior year my coach came to me and asked if I would play shortstop that year. Of course I said yes because I wanted to help the team win but didn't quite understand the detriment that would have on my chances of playing beyond high school.
I was never an above average hitter but a good pitcher and defensive player. My junior year I threw eight innings and started every game but one at shortstop. Going into my junior year I was excited to see what would happen and was hopeful someone would give me the chance to play baseball at the next level. My senior year I threw 84 innings and had a 1.09 ERA. After a heart breaking loss to Deer Valley High School in the first round of the CIF playoffs (2-1) I was hopeful something would come of my success.
The few schools I had talked with were primarily interested in me coming to their showcase camps, but I felt it was a chance. My family and I had applied to 23 different schools throughout the nation and I was accepted to 21 of them. Unfortunately none of the Division 1 baseball schools had any scholarships to offer me and a few told me they didn't feel I could ever play there.
The summer of my junior-senior year in high school, my family and I had a player evaluation done. The result of that evaluation was that I was a "Class 5 player" and fit to play at a D3 school. Since the University of Redlands is a D3 school it seemed to fit well for me.
My family and I decided that the best fit for me was at the University of Redlands in Redlands, CA. The University had offered me a generous academic scholarship to attend school there so it seemed to be the best place to attend.
I played two quality years there and was always NCAA eligible but didn't keep my grades high enough to keep my scholarship. My cumulative GPA fell below the minimum level and it was revoked. My parents and I decided I needed to head back home.
Once I got back I began looking for a place to play. I wrote emails to nearly every coach in California that had a program I thought I could play at. Over the next week or so I began getting emails from coaches saying essentially, "Thanks but no thanks." I received an email from Coach Kernen at CSU-Bakersfield and he offered me a spot. Since the car was still packed with everything I owned, I got in the car and decided to drive to Bakersfield and attend CSUB.
While it was a risky and daring adventure to walk into a brand new D1 school and try to fight for a spot against players on-scholarship, I knew I wanted a second shot to play. I had screwed up at the U of Redlands but wanted to make sure I took full advantage of my time in Bakersfield.
Unfortunately I found out some bad news after getting there; despite not being on scholarship, I would not be eligible for the season and had to sit out a year due to NCAA residency rules.
I knew I still wanted to be a part of the team so I talked with my parents and they agreed I could drive to all of the games. I knew I would need to earn the team’s trust and respect in some way without setting foot on the field. I wanted to be a leader for the team whether it was on the field or off. I decided I was going to be a daily visitor to the gym with high intensity workouts. I also started mowing the field and the parking lot grass. The grass has to be mowed three times a week and it takes about two hours for each mow.
The moment I started driving to games, I knew I would be in for an almost impossible task. I wanted to prove something to myself, as well as my teammates, so I gritted my teeth and made the decision that I would make as many games as possible that season. I missed just two out of 50, one due to the grapevine closing, and the other due to a test that I wasn't allowed to move.
I wanted to make my trips to the game a lesson for myself, and act as a rapport builder with the team. I decided to not ask for extra money from my parents, but instead insisted on paying for the trips myself. I used some unorthodox means by which to do that and found a way to make it to the games. My parents did pay for my flights to Nebraska and Missouri as a part of my Birthday and Christmas gifts (early).
By the end of the season I had shown most of the players I was just as committed to the team, and winning as they were. It went a long way to earning their trust and would payoff in the end. While I knew it was important to earn that trust for us to win, I didn't realize what was to come of it over the next two years and I'm sure will be a lifetime of rewards…
Next title: "The Playing Years at CSUB"
Including our heated rivalry with Fresno State, denying a coach his 1,000th win and beating the multi-million dollar man
Photo Credit: Kevin McCarthy + GoRunners.com
(Feel free to contact Mike or Aaron, by commenting below, or sending an e-mail to
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. As things stand right now, Mike plans on posting every Wednesday here at AaronTorres-Sports.com.
Also, be sure to follow Aaron @Aaron_Torres and Facebook.com/AaronTorresSports)
