Good story on Matt Harrison

Just a quick article about the progress of Matt Harrison in the Braves organization.

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/sports/baseball/mlb/atlanta_braves/16784636.htm

Congrats to Matt. Keep up the good work.

 

Hard work pays off

Matt called me the other night he is getting the start in the Braves first spring training game today vs Ga Tech. He has a good chance of staying up with the Big League team this year. Matt worked out with us this summer and we punished him. He worked each day with a survey company cutting brush with a bush axe. Then he would come up to the field and work out. Quote from Matt this summer "Coach I dont throw any harder now than I did in HS. I learned to throw my change anywhere and anytime in the count. Those guys can crush a fb over the plate when they are looking for it". Matt is a guy that I went to watch in the 8th grade pitching for his Middle School team. He got beat 10-0 in 4 innings. He was 75-77 as a freshman in HS. But he had a tremendous work ethic that was taught to him as a young kid at home. He worked at home everyday in the yard. He was the first kid to the field and the last one to leave in the summer and during the season. During the summer Matt would call and ask if we needed to do anything to the field. He would come up and help me spread dirt , cut grass anything that needed to be done he was there ready to work. After his soph year I took him to a AAU team tryout. He was not asked to play because they said he didnt throw hard enough. This only made him work harder he never had excuses or ever whined about anything. I told him - Its not where you start the race its where you finish the race. Matt was not one of these kids that was told they were the best thing since sliced bread his whole life. He could not afford to play showcase baseball. He was just a hard working country boy that loved to play baseball. Couldnt happen to a better young man. I love you Gab go get em boy!

 

Well put Coach. He was always one of the most polite young men I have ever coached against. He deserves everything he has gotten so far and I pray for his continued success.

 

Not only are these type kids you want to root for, but these type kids you grow to love. Hard work and humbleness....go together like ice cream and apple pie.

Thanks for sharing this story. I didn't know of Matt Harrison, but I do now and I will be following his future with great intent.

 

Matt is currently ranked #90 in Baseball America's top 100 prospects.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/features/263445.html