By Joseph Baroud
Staff Writer
There are always those high school athletes who played baseball at a high level but, for whatever reason, generated no interest from college programs or Major League Baseball teams in the amateur draft.
But they still believe in their abilities, even if nobody has given them an official vote of confidence.
These are the type of players who will take to the Toro Field at noon on Oct. 1 to try and walk onto the CSUDH baseball team.
CSUDH head baseball coach Tyler Wright says it will be a pro-style workout with approximately eight – 15 students participating. He says while it’s not easy for a walk-on to make the team, it does happen.
“It’s very difficult to walk on and make the team,” Wright said. “But we’ve had somebody do it every year the last two, three years since I’ve been here.
“The vast majority of these guys weren’t recruited out of high school, but maybe they have a tool that could help our team and would be something we’re looking for.”
Every player will run a 60-meter sprint. Infielders will take ground balls and make throws to various bases. The outfielders will field pop flies and line drives. The pitchers will throw a short bullpen session. The fielding players will take about 20 swings in the batting cages if they make it that far.
“A tryout could last 10 minutes,” Wright said. “Or, it could last up to an entire fall [season] all the way to possibly making the club and being with us during the spring.”
If coach Wright likes a player, he will begin working with the team on trying to get as conditioned as possible in a very short amount of time. The team begins holding practices early in October, with the season starting in February.
