Dodgers Tryout 2012

Today was basically an amazing day at the ball field. We got up at 6am. We left to get to the Camelback Ranch fields at 7 am. We actually got to Camelback at 7:40 am and the sign-ins were at 8am. The minute we got there Derek and I started picking out all of the guys he and I remembered from teams he has played on for the past 2 years. It was pretty neat to see familiar faces.  At 9am the fun began. Now Derek and I both went to this tryout for the Los Angeles Dodger team very open minded knowing that he might get up, throw a bull pin, and get told to leave. That is what we were pretty much guessing would happen when we got there and found out in minutes of it beginning. There were over 130 guys at this tryout and they all had at least minor league experience. It was very discouraging to both Derek and I, but we were not expecting anything so we were ok. 

Derek warmed up and he was the fourth guy to throw. As he got to his catcher he told him "Knuckleballs only". The catcher did a double take and said "Sure...." At first Derek warmed up with the catcher by just throwing a gentle knuckleball. The main scout then came up to Derek and started asking questions.....this is how their conversation went....

Scout: Knuckleballs only

Derek: Yes

Scout: What's your name

Derek: Derek

Scout: How old are you

Derek: 26

Scout: What teams you played for

Derek: College and independent

Scout: If I look up your numbers will they be worth a crap

Derek: I just started pitching all knuckleballs, my numbers back then include 80mph fastballs

Scout: Well you have our attention

Now mind you this conversation happened BEFORE he even really started pitching. So it began. Derek's knuckleballs were great. The catcher had such a hard time catching them and he had lots of people watching him. They then told him two more and he finished his bullpen with two last pitches. The 3 scouts talked with Derek and I told my friend Chelsea who came with us that this was so so so good! They talked to him before and after his pitching. As Derek walked away from them I just started crying! They acknowledged him! That was so much more then we were expecting. Derek came up to me and told me that they had invited him to stay and be part of the tryout game after tryouts. Out of the 130 guys trying out my husband was one of the 40 that was asked to stay, WHICH IS AMAZING!!!!!

Seriously we were so excited just for the chance  for him to pitch in the game. It took about 3 hours in between for them to do all of the try out stuff for the rest of the players. They then got the game started. Derek was told, just like ever other pitcher he would see two batters. Derek was the fourth pitcher. Derek's first batter was an asian man. The first pitch came in and .....the batter just watched it come in for a strike! IT WAS CLASSIC! The second pitch and ......the batter swung and whiffed at it! Seriously I think I might have cheered! Chelsea and I were so happy. The guy swung so hard and just above Derek's dropping ball and he completely missed it! The 3rd pitch was a pop up to right field for a foul ball and the 4th pitch the guy grounded to second base and was tagged out at first. Then Derek's second batter....Which I think was a little unfair because he was someone who Derek already has played with and pitched in a summer league. Derek did good against him but he got a hit to left field and the outfield let it drop off his glove. 

 At the end of the game they called out 6 guys names to stay and talk....which doesn't even mean they made a team, and Derek was not one of them. All and all it was a great experience and we had so much fun doing this today! I just have to say how proud I am of Derek. He isn't a professional baseball player and he might never be one, but I AM proud of the person he is and how he is still doing something that he really enjoys. Like I said.... to me he might never be a professional player, but he is an amazing athlete and that is what I love about him!