Spring Training: The Beginning

The first full day of Spring Training was a whirlwind of activities. Being my first March in Fort Myers, I wasn’t completely sure what to expect. Here is how it went:

Leave home for the airport. Say goodbye to my fiancé. Check my bags, just under the weight limit. Take my shoes off, walk through a small door, put my shoes back on. Sit and read Hunger Games. Hope they make it out alive. Hangout with Nate Hanson. Board the plane. Watch Cole Nelson try to fit his long legs in a very small space. Take off. Take a nap. Finish Hunger Games. I won’t spoil it. Drink a miniature glass of Diet Coke, no nuts or pretzels? Plane lands. Text everyone, “I’m here!” Grab bags. Hop in a van. Arrive at hotel. Sign my name on a computer screen. Arrive at my room. Roy Larson is staring at me. My roommate, Tyler Koelling hasn’t moved since he got here. Watch two teams punch tickets to the NCAA Tourney. Good luck against the one seeds. Start next Hunger Games book. Mind is blown. Crank up the AC. Go to sleep.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

Wake up. Get dressed. Go to bus. See Miguel Sano. He yells, “Ayy papi!” Glad we are still pals. Small talk in Spanish with Kennys Vargas. Head to the field. Arrive at the Clubhouse. Scavenger hunt for my locker. There it is. Unload my stuff. Boxes of gear inside. Christmas in March. Get in a line. Weigh in. Measure my height. News flash, I’m still short. Pee in a cup. Pour urine into a vile. College prepared me for this. Get blood drawn. Nearly pass out. Take off shirt. Stickers placed all over. EKG. Stickers taken off. Sit in a chair. And another. And another. Stare in a machine. Read letters. Look ahead. Bright light in my eyes. Chin on a machine. PUFF. More lights, more staring. Get in another line. Deep breath. Chest my test. Woops, going too fast. Look in my ears. Turn my head annnd…cough. Get dressed and head to field.

Warm up. Play catch. Mile run. Catchers and corners first. Watch Matt Parker move like a deer. He ran it in 5 and a half minutes? Cmon. Run my mile. Mouth is as dry as my humor. Get a drink. Shower. Eat lunch. Meet with peak performance specialist. Good to see Dr. Rick Aberman. Day concludes. Hop on bus. Arrive at hotel.

I hope this gives a small glimpse into my first day of Spring Training. I am extremely excited to be in Fort Myers, and I am ready to start playing some ball!

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