The Captain's Log: A New Chapter Begins
June 14, 2012
After being selected by the New York Yankees on Day Three of Major League Baseball’s 2012 First-Year Player Draft, one of the greatest to ever come through Coral Gables gives his parting thoughts on a brilliant career with the Miami Hurricanes.
I honestly couldn’t believe how quickly our season ended – it was heartbreaking. We had enough talent on our team to make a good run in the postseason but we weren’t playing consistent baseball throughout the season, so I guess it just wasn’t meant to be. One great thing about college baseball is that there are natural changes made to the roster and to the attitude and approach to the game from year to year, and I’m sure the 2013 Hurricanes will be something very special. Just take the 2007 Hurricanes compared to the 2008 team as an example. Between 2007 and 2008, there weren’t many changes made to the roster, but the confidence level and the realization of what we were capable of doing became a huge factor in our performance. So there’s no need to panic, and I’m confident that Miami will own the state of Florida in baseball again soon.
I’m always going to be a Miami Hurricane. I’ll never forget all of the wonderful relationships I made while I was at UM, or the obstacles I overcame. I’ll never forget what it was like to wear orange and green, and to represent the best school in the country. I’ll never forget pitching against Florida State in the World Series, and beating them. And I’ll never forget to thank God for leading me down I-75 from Sarasota to Miami and putting the University of Miami and everything that came along with it into my life. I’m forever grateful.
The newest chapter of my life is happening in the New York Yankees organization. I’ve worked very hard to get here and know that this is where I belong. My dad grew up in Brooklyn, and when I was five years old he took me to my first baseball game in the Bronx to watch the Yankees and the Red Sox play. I remember everything, and I’ve been a Yankee fan ever since.
In fact all of my childhood memories of baseball revolve around the New York Yankees. My dad would take me to card shows where former Yankee players would go to sign autographs, and we would wait in line to meet them and have them sign baseballs and photographs. I’ve met Whitey Ford, Phil Rizzuto and Yogi Berra just to name a few. I had Yankee wallpaper in my bedroom when I was a kid . It is absolutely amazing that the organization drafted me when I was coming out of high school, and have drafted me again six years later after all I’ve been through.
Ever since I reported to camp in Tampa I’ve been walking around with a feeling that is too good to describe. I’m with my dream team, and the opportunities that are in front of me are things that I’ve been thinking about and dreaming about since I was five years old. The ultimate goal is to make it to the Major Leagues, but regardless of what happens, I am very blessed and am going to make the most of this opportunity. Go Canes! Go Yankees!
“I want to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee.” –Joe Dimaggio
-Easy E
