If you’re looking for a baseball book that will keep you entertained until Opening Day, check out Dirk Hayhurst’s The Bullpen Gospels: Major League Dreams of a Minor League Veteran. The book details Hayhurst’s 2007 season at three different levels of the minors. He describes long bus rides, living with host families, Kangaroo Court, and battling the urge to give up on a dream. It’s an honest story about the arduous journey it takes so many ballplayers to reach their ultimate goal, knowing they may never achieve it.
Hayhurst has since made it to the majors, pitching in 25 games, making three starts, and compiling a 0-2 record and a 5.72 ERA for the Padres and Blue Jays. The Kent State University graduate’s book received rave reviews from Bob Costas, Keith Olbermann, Tom Verducci and Tim Kurkjian, and made The New York Times Bestseller list.
Hayhurst also played for my hometown’s college summer league team, the Bethesda Big Train, back in 2001. After missing all of 2010 with a shoulder injury, he signed a minor league contract with the Rays and will hope to spend this season in Tampa Bay. Dirk Hayhurst, best of luck.
A big step in my career
After spending last season working for the Toledo Mud Hens, I’ll start a new job next month in the Research Department at MLB Network. I’m thrilled for the opportunity to work with baseball people who love the game as much as I do. The researchers support the on-air personalities by providing statistical and analytical information for each broadcast. In addition to Bob Costas and Peter Gammons, MLB Network on-air personalities include retired ballplayers Sean Casey, Bill Ripken, Al Leiter, Kevin Millar, Harold Reynolds, and John Smoltz. Since I’ll be living so close to New York City, hopefully I’ll make it to Citi Field and New Yankee Stadium this year for the first time.
This is not my official retirement from blogging, but I will be going on sabbatical and do not expect to post until after the 2011 season is over. Thank you for reading.
Keywords: Al Leiter, Bethesda Big Train, Bill Ripken, Bob Costas, Citi Field, Dirk Hayhurst, Harold Reynolds, John Smoltz, Keith Olbermann, Kent State University, Kevin Millar, MLB Network, New Yankee Stadium, Peter Gammons, Research Department, retirement, sabbatical, San Diego Padres, Sean Casey, Tampa Bay Rays, The Bullpen Gospels, The New York Times Bestseller, Tim Kurkjian, Toledo Mud Hens, Tom Verducci, Toronto Blue Jays
