I remember the day I got drafted by Major League Baseball’s Milwaukee Brewers. A couple of days before, I had gotten engaged to my now-wife Kenzie. I was helping with a UVU baseball camp for kids and hadn’t seen anything about the draft yet, but Kenzie sent me a text that said “Congratulations.” A little disoriented, I checked the draft board on my phone, and sure enough, there was my name. I was picked. All the young baseball players I was teaching asked me to sign baseballs for them. My preparation and hard work growing up and while on the UVU baseball team was paying off. That was a moment I’ll never forget.

It all started in Orem, Utah, where I was born and raised. I have three older brothers and one younger sister. I was hooked by baseball at a young age since my brothers played little league baseball at the Orem City Center, and I would always go to their games. I started playing t-ball when I was six years old and played baseball in the Orem league through high school. When I realized I had potential in baseball, I set a goal to get a college scholarship and dedicated most of my time to the sport, training with Mountain West Baseball Academy, playing on travel teams, and seeking to improve and gain exposure to colleges.

During the first year of high school, I had a few coaches who weren't giving me the opportunities I thought I deserved at the time. Other guys were getting the chances I wanted despite my hard work. My dad, who has always believed in me, just sat me down one day and said, “Hey, you gotta block those things out. Control what you can control. Use this as motivation to work harder and prove your coaches wrong.” That was motivating, and I decided that I would try to live by his advice. I have learned that all of us will run into people who doubt our abilities. But we can choose to believe in ourselves, use their disbelief as motivation, and prove them wrong.

As a junior, I played in tournaments where several college coaches and scouts were present, watching us play. The University of Utah and Utah Valley University (UVU) wanted me on their respective teams. With UVU being close to home and offering me great athletic and academic scholarships, the decision to attend UVU was extra appealing. A bonus factor was that UVU’s head baseball coach at the time, Eric Madsen, was the father of one of my old teammates, and I already had a close connection with him. UVU felt like the right place for me, so I committed to playing as a pitcher.

I loved my three years of baseball at UVU. I especially loved getting to know new teammates. A lot of guys from out of state became my close friends as we practiced and played together, and I developed quality relationships with them. It was also fun to attend other UVU-related sporting programs and events where we met players from several different sports, including soccer and basketball. The sporting world at UVU is an uplifting environment that I loved being a part of.

I majored in finance and minored in economics. School is important to me. My parents taught me early on that focusing on education can open a lot of doors. I was grateful for that lesson since it drove me to take my education seriously. Some players struggled to balance the rigor of academics with the demand of playing on a university sports team but focusing on my academic well-being really did me well.

The first fall semester was eye-opening for me. I had started a life where baseball was a practical full-time job. I woke up to lift weights with the team at 6am, went straight to class, then went to practice, then more class, then did homework. The schedule was taxing. It really put into perspective that this is what I chose to do. As much of a grind as fall semester was, playing and traveling in the spring season made it all worth it.

My first start on the UVU team was against Wichita State. The game was three innings, and I had no hits and six strikeouts. It was one of the best feelings for me to realize that I could compete with some of the best players and hold my own. After that game, I thought, I'm here, I can do this. I appreciate Coach Madsen giving me the opportunity to chase my dream of playing Division One baseball. I’m also grateful to David Carter, our associate head coach, and Joldy Watts, assistant coach, who coached me a ton in my pitching. They put in the time and effort to help me have a solid routine as a pitcher, make me better, and set me up for success.

You become eligible for the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft after your junior year of college. While still working hard to finish my degree, I had a razor-sharp focus on achieving my MLB goals. We went to South Carolina to play in a big conference called the Southeastern Conference (SEC) where a lot of scouts were present. UVU was an underdog, but we played a great game and I ended up having 11 strikeouts. I think part of the reason I got drafted was because I performed well at the highest stage in college baseball.

I played through the COVID-19 pandemic for a couple years with the Brewers. This last offseason I was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, who I’m currently playing with. I'm glad I get to do this and call this my job. My plan is to keep playing and going as long as I can until they tell me to stop.

Since February 15, I’ve been in Florida for spring training. We wake up early and practice all day until about 2pm. The season starts in April, and we will play until September. It is hard being away from family and Kenzie. She is so supportive, though, and she’s been able to visit every so often, which has been amazing.

Throughout my experiences in college and professional baseball, I’ve learned a simple but important lesson: treat others right. That’s what I’d tell UVU students. Some of my past teammates don’t see the importance of being kind to people, and they’re extremely hard to work with. Coaches will dismiss those types of players. I think you can apply that lesson to all aspects of life as well. It goes a long way to carry yourself the right way, to respect professors, coaches, and those around you. In the pursuit of your dreams, remember that you can make a positive, lasting impact by treating people right.