The Story of Kevin Ricalde

[slugger724]

October 10, 2028

My name is Kevin Ricalde and I am keeping this journal as I have enrolled in the 2028 MLB draft for the 2029 season.

I start this journal as I leave my parents humble abode in Riverhead, New York as an 18 year old heading to JFK airport with my best friend Levi. We are going to Tanzania on a missions trip with my church to help build a school for elementary aged students and will be gone for 3 weeks, which will be in time to catch the end of the 2028 World Series.

In 2028, there are 64 teams in the Major Leagues so I anticipate being drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round after a solid high school career. The Mexico City Matadors are the top team in the National League and are trying to repeat as World Series Champions after the San Juan Catfish won each year from 2024 to 2026.

You are wondering what happened to the major leagues... well the 30 teams are still there, but of the 30 teams you probably know only 4 are in the postseason... Pittsburgh Pirates, Miami Marlins, Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. I root for the Long Island Classics who won the AL East and are hosting the Rays in the wildcard, while the New York Mets fell short.

My parents were divided on my future. Having divorced parents, may father was very strong about my baseball future and had coached all my Little League teams and travel teams. He did not have any other interest in my life besides baseball. He was a pitcher who blew out his arm when he was in college and has been living vicariously through me. I do not like his new wife who has been controlling him since they met, but my dad never missed a single high school game of mine.

Mom wanted me to be a pastor. After my father left, she got very involved in the local church which meant I was involved as a teen worship leader playing guitar on the worship team. She wanted me to go to Oral Roberts and get my degree in something Christian. I see a lot of 80 year old pastors, so I feel that it is something I can do after baseball.

With the expanded league it is actually easy to get to the major leagues now, the conundrum being if I end up on a good team I might not be getting there as fast. I play third base and have a solid arm for that position but can also play the outfield if needed. I hope I end up on the east coast or Northeast but there are teams in London, Alaska and Paris so those places are in play as well.

I do remember scouts in the stands but I tended to ignore them. Most websites had me listed as a top 100 player for this draft so I felt that as long as the web scouts listed me, I did not have to stand out.

My furthest missions trip was to Bandon, Oregon last year, and I have never left the country so going to East Africa is going to be a shock to my system. I had to get a lot of innoculations before going, but I do have a heart for spreading the Gospel and helping those in need.

Levi has been my friend since I was 14 and plays drums on the worship team. He is not an athlete but he is definitely a smart guy who decided to take a year off after high school to take inventory of himself. I believe he wants a career in ministry but is afraid of the earnings, but also has considered accounting but doesn't see the purpose with AI bursting out.

I kind of like the idea of taking my mind off the draft for a few weeks as the draft will be in December. The long ride to JFK is making me carsick so I will post again soon.


Editors note: I have no idea where this player will land or how good he will be, he will be inserted into the 6th season of an established random entry historical league.

[AZTarHeel]

Good luck, have a great career! Have fun with this one.