I love stories like this. As some you may or may not know, I have been calling for MLB to open as many of these urban facilities as possible, not unlike the one they have in Compton. I would even go so far as to say, that each MLB club should sponsor one in their own neighborhood.
But what caught my eye about this story, was Gary Matthews Jr. preaching to the kids that dreams can come true.
Gary Matthews Jr. could be the poster child for any MLB "dreams can come true" campaign. Matthews Jr. as you probably know, had been cut from virtually every MLB ball club he has ever played for, before stumbling into one solid season in Arlington, playing for the Rangers. He parlayed that one season of success into a 5 year $50 million dollar contract playing center field for the Angels.
$50 million! dreams do come true, eh Junior?
For the high schoolers participating in the Breakthrough Series at the Urban Youth Academy this week, the idea of playing professional baseball probably seemed like a pipe dream, at best.
But in one day, the dream may have come into much sharper focus, thanks to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
"Sometimes they need something tangible, something real, to tell them they're not as far away as they think they are," Angels outfielder Gary Matthews said after addressing the wide-eyed teens at Angel Stadium on Tuesday prior to the Angels game against the Indians. "Hopefully, I can come across as honest."
Matthews told the group that "it's a long road and it's not going to be easy. It's about progressing and knowing it's going to take patience. Never stop believing in your ability, even when you're failing."
