Toro’s baseball alumnus speaks on his perseverance and passion for the game
Rossman’s career not only made him a champion but took him around the globe. He transitioned from pitching in the major leagues, to playing in Mexico, and eventually with Team Israel.
“I will never give up on something I love so much,” were the wise words Toro’s baseball alumnus Charles “Bubby” Rossman, 31, said about his twenty-year long baseball career.
Rossman’s passion for baseball spans his entire life. After a standout season as a freshman at Cerritos Community College, Rossman’s talent caught the eyes of scouts from across California. Ultimately, Rossman chose to continue his collegiate career as a Toro in 2013. The decision would kick off a pivotal chapter in Rossman’s journey to the big leagues.
Rossman said watching the dedication, commitment, and trust among his teammates and coaches at CSUDH inspired his hardworking mindset.
“I thank and still talk to many of my teammates and coaches at CSUDH because they will always feel like a second family to me,” Rossman said.
In 2014, Rossman’s hard work made his dreams a reality when the Los Angeles Dodgers picked him up in the 22nd round of the MLB Draft.
“Being drafted was an unbelievable and surreal moment for myself and my family,” Rossman said. “It made everything I worked on mean something and I will never forget the day because I got to spend it with my family who made it special for me.”
Rossman finally made it to the big time, but there was just one catch: the Dodgers drafted him as a pitcher while as a Toro, he had only ever played as an outfielder. The shift came out of “left field,” so to speak, in more ways than one.
“Everything was a change of scene, mechanics, environment, and even equipment,” Rossman said. “I didn’t have any proper equipment to be a pitcher and they said I needed a pitcher’s glove. I didn’t even know there was a difference.”
Rossman felt the pressure to step into his new role with his whole chest – literally. The stress would send his heart racing, but Rossman wanted to make the most of this new opportunity, no matter how steep the learning curve.
“By keeping everything simple and not overcomplicating things
I knew the experience was going to be worth it,” Rossman said. “I told myself to keep calm, practice at least three hours a day, and have an open mind to learning anything helpful which included new skills in and out of the gym.”
Despite his efforts, Rossman’s tenure with the Dodgers wasn’t long. He was released without having played a single minute for “The Boys in Blue.” According to Rossman, the team just couldn’t find a “proper place for him to gain his full potential.” The team’s decision put a considerable dent in his self-confidence.
“I went from essentially being a star outfielder at CSUDH to being the captain of a team that I wasn’t trained for,” Rossman said. “So after my time with the Dodgers, I knew that I needed to lock in on pitching because I knew I could excel at it.”
Rossman’s determination to make it as a major league pitcher put him on a path through the MLB’s minor leagues. That road eventually led him to Mexico, where he would continue to hone his craft.
“I got to work on my skills and make myself more sellable to MLB teams when I played in the [MLB] Minor League and in the Mexican league,” Rossman said. “The coaches showed me strategies to improve on and each community started to give me confidence to reach new levels in baseball even at times when I felt like giving up.”
Rossman forged meaningful connections at every destination in his journey, which revitalized his mindset and imparted invaluable lessons that profoundly shaped his baseball career. Despite facing numerous challenges –from multiple torn tendons in the arm to personal setbacks – he remained resilient and confident that there was always a way to overcome obstacles within any team he belonged to.
“There are plenty of times in my career where I could have given up when I was released or even when I went through a lengthy rehab process,” Rossman said. “But by staying positive with myself mentally and physically it would always help build up my self-confidence to overcome anything that comes my way.”
The harder Rossman worked, the more it paid off. In need of a short-term substitute pitcher for their 2022 postseason run, the Philadelphia Phillies looked to their minor league squad, the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. The Phillies needed someone to fill in for pitcher Kyle Gibson against the Toronto Blue Jays, and this time – eight years after being cut from the Dodgers – Rossman was ready to play ball.
Rossman’s addition to the Phillies lineup was pivotal. Taking the mound for the first time as a major leaguer, Rossman helped the Phillies beat the Blue Jays en route to winning the National League Championship.
“In my twenty-plus years of playing baseball, I have never won an award so it was beyond an awesome experience to earn something at the highest level of baseball,” Rossman said.
The National League Division Series victory was the realization of Rossman’s never-say-die attitude. Still, Rossman knew his contract with the Phillies was temporary, so he looked overseas to take the next steps in his journey.
“Just a couple months later, I had the honor to be recruited by Team Israel to play in some massive marquee matchups,” Rossman said.
Those marquee matchups took place in Miami, Florida, at the 2022 MLB World Baseball Classic. Rossman pitched in front of a sold-out stadium, which he called an emotional, “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Rossman’s story is one of perseverance and grit. No matter the challenge, he soldiered in pursuit of his passion. Even when the odds seem insurmountable or there are setbacks along the way, Rossman encourages people to never stop believing in themselves or working hard toward their goals.
“There may always be someone that is coming up in the world who is better than you, but that isn’t always correct or truthful,” Rossman said. “Yes, everyone is different but it’s the small things that go a long way in making yourself stand out the way you deserve.”
