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antidan444 · 06-08-2014, 05:49 PM

June 7, 2013

I still can't quite believe what happened today.

"With the first pick in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft, the Houston Astros select Dan Kauffman, a pitcher out of North Hagerstown High School in Hagerstown, Maryland."

I dreamed of this day, but doubted what happened could ever occur.

I'm only 5-foot-8. Sub-6-foot pitchers don't go first.

I only throw 92 mph tops. Guys who go first overall throw harder ... usually, a LOT harder.

Still, scouts I talked to said this was possible. They say my natural sinking movement and variety of other plus pitches (curve, slider, change) are unusual for a kid my age.

The movement? That's a gift from God. The arsenal? That's something I worked long and hard at, since I was 7 years old, wanting to be just like my idol growing up: Greg Maddux.

I remember coming across a Braves game on TBS back then and enjoying the game. I had no idea who Maddux was at first ... some veteran who supposedly was really, really good in his prime. I just knew there was a Braves game on TBS nearly every night from April through September, and I became a huge Braves fan.

But I knew who Maddux was soon enough. He never looked all that impressive, kind of like me. Never threw all that hard, kind of like me. But boy, could he pitch! Inside, outside, up, down, a little harder, a little slower, a little slower still, almost always one step ahead of the hitter. I loved the chess master outmaneuvering the opponent.

And I wanted to be just like him.

I hope to take those first professional steps soon. My agent says I could get a $7 million signing bonus. That's nice, but I just want to get the contract done and get on a mound somewhere so I can get started.

------

For those who are curious:

Dan Kauffman
Birthday: 2/13/95 (18 years old)
Throws: Right

(Ratings on a 20-80 scale, with overall listed first, then potential)

Stuff: 40/80 (I did not expect an 80 potential, that got bumped up on the first scout evaluation after I created the player)
Movement: 55/70
Control: 55/80
Stamina: 75
Sinker 45/65
Curve 35/65
Slider 35/65
Circle Change 40/80

06-08-2014, 05:49 PM	#1
antidan444 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 158	A baseball career: My journal June 7, 2013 I still can't quite believe what happened today. "With the first pick in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft, the Houston Astros select Dan Kauffman, a pitcher out of North Hagerstown High School in Hagerstown, Maryland." I dreamed of this day, but doubted what happened could ever occur. I'm only 5-foot-8. Sub-6-foot pitchers don't go first. I only throw 92 mph tops. Guys who go first overall throw harder ... usually, a LOT harder. Still, scouts I talked to said this was possible. They say my natural sinking movement and variety of other plus pitches (curve, slider, change) are unusual for a kid my age. The movement? That's a gift from God. The arsenal? That's something I worked long and hard at, since I was 7 years old, wanting to be just like my idol growing up: Greg Maddux. I remember coming across a Braves game on TBS back then and enjoying the game. I had no idea who Maddux was at first ... some veteran who supposedly was really, really good in his prime. I just knew there was a Braves game on TBS nearly every night from April through September, and I became a huge Braves fan. But I knew who Maddux was soon enough. He never looked all that impressive, kind of like me. Never threw all that hard, kind of like me. But boy, could he pitch! Inside, outside, up, down, a little harder, a little slower, a little slower still, almost always one step ahead of the hitter. I loved the chess master outmaneuvering the opponent. And I wanted to be just like him. I hope to take those first professional steps soon. My agent says I could get a $7 million signing bonus. That's nice, but I just want to get the contract done and get on a mound somewhere so I can get started. ------ For those who are curious: Dan Kauffman Birthday: 2/13/95 (18 years old) Throws: Right (Ratings on a 20-80 scale, with overall listed first, then potential) Stuff: 40/80 (I did not expect an 80 potential, that got bumped up on the first scout evaluation after I created the player) Movement: 55/70 Control: 55/80 Stamina: 75 Sinker 45/65 Curve 35/65 Slider 35/65 Circle Change 40/80