Life on the Farm

I thought it would be great to have a thread chronicling interesting and or humorous stories involving our newly acquired friends that are now "professional baseball players" and beginning a life as minor leaguers.

Ryan Falcon (UNCG), a tremendous young man from Durham, NC overcame successful Tommy John surgery to have an All-SoCon senior season and was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 29th round. An excited Ryan, who hasn't been out of NC very often, boarded a plane for a 10 hour flight to begin his professional career for the Spokane Indians in Spokane, Wash. for short season A-ball. Upon his arrival, and not knowing a soul, Ryan was anxious to meet his new roomie only to find out he was Fabillo Castillo from the Dominican Republic, who did not speak a bit of English! Ryan's host family made him feel right at home though when they gave him the keys to a vehicle to ride back and forth to the park......a 1964 Ford pick-up. When Ryan asked what he owed for room and board he was told to just keep oil in the truck. On June 21st Ryan entered the game in the sixth inning in front of at least, by his estimation, 27 people for his professional debut. As he got to the mound feeling a bit nervous his new coach handed him the ball and said " OK Ryan, I know this is your first professional outing.....try not to f*#k it up!" Ryan pitched two scoreless innings of one hit ball and can now tell his grandkids he once played pro ball.

The great thing is whether his career last 20 years or 20 days he's got his degree and he's a great young man. Congratulations Ryan and here's hoping you have many many more scoreless innings.

 

memories

that was a classic post!!

 

1964 Ford... ha ha ha

 

I really enjoyed the post and hope others will let us know about their first year(s) as a pro!

 

Great Post

NCSU
Great post I do not know if you know the kid or not but.....please keep us updated.

 

I can say that I am honored to know Ryan personally, coached against him for 4 years while he was at Northern Durham, had the privilege of coaching him in the state games, and have followed his career closely at UNC-G. He is one of the finest young men I ahve ever been around, and was definitely one I was glad to see go to college. A very polished pitcher out of high school, he knows how to pitch and I wish him nothing but the best. HIs family is a class act and his younger brother Cameron (signed with High Point U) has a tremendous amount of talent and potential!! I wish them nothin gbut the best!!

 

Quincy latimore

Good article from the Bradenton herald on Q. Forth round pick of the Pittsburg Pirates.

http://www.bradenton.com/sports/story/80508.html?latimore=

 

Herman Baumgartner, a wall-eyed Eskimo who played rover on the 10-man ball team at Hoosick River High School in Seal's Head, Yukon Territory, Canada, got drafted in the 43rd round by the Indians. A week ago, he boarded a four-wheeler and made the 5,400-mile trek to Pittsfield, NM, to play extra-abbreviated rookie B ball for the Pittsfield Prairie Dogs. Herman had never been out of Hoosick River and when he got to New Mexico, he found he was staying in a four-room mud house with 32 illegal mexican aliens and a 103-year-old ethiopian crack addict. he doesn't know a lick of spanish OR swahili so he moved to a Motel 6, where he lived on cactus juice, whale blubber and cold Spaghettios straight from the can. when he got to the ballyard, the manager told him to pack up and get back to Canada. Herman's probably beating baby harp seals over the head with his Louisville Slugger as I type. He'll soon be an alcoholic and will die of cirrhosis before he's 40.


next story please.

 

Avery Cornwallis is a hard-throwing left handed catcher from Buford Springs. He was known around town as a fun loving cut-up who loved nothing more than to "pull a fast one" on some poor, unsuspecting lummox. So, here he was, assigned to the Single-A Witchita Red Clouds of the Hossinpheffer Plateau League. Avery now works for Red Snuggs threading lug nuts.

 

great story, Carl.

c'mon people, don't be shy!