Travel Baseball Teams in Indiana

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MLB Players Born in Indiana

Baseball fans are apt to know Jeff Samardzila, Lance Lynn, Brandon Beachy, and (if they've followed the sport a while) Jeff Rolen. All were born in Indiana. They are scarcely the only Indiana-born MLB players.

There are 29 currently active, according to the Baseball Almanac (http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/birthplace.php?order=FinalYear).

Here are three Indiana-born baseball players at different stage of their careers.

Jeff Samardzila

Jeff Samardzila, born in 1985, played multiple sports in youth, beginning at about age five. Football was a primary winter sport, baseball a primary summer one. There were several other sports. Even hockey and wrestling were thrown into the mix for a while.

Samardzila was an active on teams during his time at Valparaiso High School. A lot of youth dream of playing college ball. Samardzila aspired to play two college sports: baseball and football. It wasn't easy, but Notre Dame ultimately let him do so.

A 2006 5th round pick by the Cubs, Samardzila was drafted after his junior year and began playing in the minors soon after -- while remaining in school and remaining on the football team (http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/102006aad.html). He still had dreams of being drafted as a football player. This dual commitment likely caused him to go later in the baseball draft than he would have otherwise; he had been named by Baseball America as 20th best prospect.

Samardzila was 23 when he was called up to the majors.

Scott Rolen

Scott Rolen, born in 1975, also loved two sports: baseball and basketball. As a kindergartner, he reportedly told his mother he'd rather stay home to play ball - he wanted to be in the majors (http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Rolen/Rolen_bio.html).

Rolen played youth sports above age-level. In baseball, he was shortstop. In high school, he transitioned to third base. He was also serving as relief pitcher.

As high school drew to a close, the Philadelphia Phillies came knocking. Rolen was selected in the 2nd round of the 1993 draft. He played for several minor league teams, culminating in the AAA Scranton-WIlkes Barre. He made his big league debut in August of 1996, at age 21.

Kevin Kiermaier

At the opposite end of the experience continuum is Kevin Kiermaier, who only recently broke into the major leagues. Kiermaier was born in April of 1990.

Kiermaier played at Bishop Luers High School, helping his team achieve a state championship. He later played for Parkland College, this time helping his team achieve a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) championship.

In 2010, he was selected in the 31st round of the draft. He was not expected to get as far as he did, but he did well in instructional league, and, after a bit of a backslide, did well later playing for AA Montgomery and AAA Durham.

He was called up from the minors on September 30, 2013. He soon found himself on the playoff roster.

Learning from the Pros

What does it mean to be a 31st round draft pick? Kiermaier was actually the 941st person picked. Most people picked this low don't make it past the minors. "You can call it a Cinderella story, but there was a lot of hard work and I'm just thankful for the opportunity," he has said (http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/rays-kevin-kiermaier-thrilled-to-get-first-big-league-callup/2144771).

Aspiring young baseball players can learn something from Kiermaier and also from Samardzila and Rolen. Sports are a passion, but success takes time and effort.

Rolen notes that he is living his lifelong dream. But team sports can build life skills even if a person never gets scouted or drafted.

Attitude will help. Rolen says, "Playing baseball—hitting—is very difficult. But saying hello to someone is the easiest thing in the world (http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Rolen/Rolen_my-say.html).”

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