He says that, being from Pittsburgh, he grew up a Pirates fan. He mentions that, at the end of his baseball seasons, he has enjoyed coming home to see the Pirates making it in to the post season!
He went from Traverse City to Normal in the middle of the season. Concerning his time in Traverse City, he mentions that it is a great area, and he is grateful that they gave him his start in professional baseball. It is a great town he says.
I asked him about favorite baseball books, and he mentions that he really enjoyed reading Josh Hamilton's book, "Beyond Belief: Finding the Strength to Come Back." He talks at length about how he can relate to it because he has witnessed many friends and ballplayers get into drugs, and have the game taken away from them.
He continues, "No matter what the situation I think it is extremely tough to go from that low and get back to an elite level, and that book did a really nice job of highlighting the struggle he went through."
Mike talks a lot about his love of the game. "I have been blessed to play with and against many people all over the country, and while I am a strong competitor, the wins and losses come and go. What stays with me is the friendships and going to the park each day during the season knowing that there are 23 or 24 guys in that locker room and dugout with me ready to go compete together for the next 9 innings. Baseball has blessed me with many things, but the thing that never leaves me is the friendships of my teammates and coaches that extend into life off the field."
I wanted to put Mike's feelings on baseball in quotes, because he said it perfectly!
Good luck next year Mike, and thanks for the nice note!
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