Get to Know: Mason Morioka

2nd up, Mason.

Mason and I at Lake Mission Viejo

This is Mason--------------------------->

I knew of Mason since we were in middle school. We played against each other in baseball and basketball. But we didn't know each other then.

Mason was born in Bellflower, California but was raised in Torrance where he went to West Torrance High School and lettered 4 years in baseball. during those 4 years, he's received the accolades of 1st Team All- League 3 times and 1st Team All-CIF 2 times.

After his high school days, he signed a letter of intent with the University of San Francisco to play baseball and earned All-West Coast Conference Honorable Mentions his senior year.

Shortly after he returned home to Torrance after graduating from USF, my buddy Taylor was on his rough journey of couch surfing until he found a place to live in Los Angeles and was spending the night at Mason's one night.

This was the first time I talked to Mason. That night, we talked about what his situation was since he had just graduated and told us he was waiting hear his name in the MLB First Year Amateur Draft.

Later that night Taylor, Mason and I met up some of my teammates I played with at El Camino for a get together. But after that night, I didn't keep in touch with Mason for a while.

Then 3 or 4 months later (still in the year 2012), I found out he was in Wichita playing professional ball for the Wichita Wingnuts. We had a brief conversation and that was pretty much it until after I graduated from Mount Mercy.

One day during the summer I spent in Iowa, out of no where Mason messaged me on Facebook asking me if I wanted to play on a summer team in California. But as I mentioned earlier, I was in Iowa at the time.

Fast forward to August when I came back home after graduating, Mason and I met up to talk about my pursuit of wanting to play professional ball with an independent league and what it's like playing professionally.

He said, "It's a lot different than college. You play for yourself as well as for a team. Although you meet some amazing baseball players and learn as much as you can from them, they are still trying to make it to affiliated baseball as well. It's different, but it's an amazing opportunity." 

As we talked I learned that he had Tommy John surgery in October 2012 and was still looking to play once he was fully recovered. 

"It happened playing long toss with another player on a team. It was with my first day of pro ball."

Since he was looking to play after recovering from surgery and I was in pursuit of looking for a team to play for, we made a deal that we were gonna work out until he found a team to play for.

Then after what it seemed like a long 9 months of lifting weights in his backyard, staying up past midnight to hit batting practice and occasionally playing catch, he signed with a team from Rockford, Illinois in the Frontier League and met the one year mark since the Tommy John Surgery (It's usually estimated a year to recover from the surgery with physical therapy) in-between that time.

"I was really limited on what I could and couldn't do for about the first month couple of months; I was in a cast for a month, then a brace that only allowed me a certain amount of mobility. It was difficult doing every day tasks such as brushing my teeth, changing my clothes, and doing my job. While giving lessons, I had to learn how to throw left handed which came in handy with some of the kids I was giving lessons to. I was doing a lot of lessons so it made the transition easier. It also helped me with my own ability to come back to playing baseball. Teaching kids how to hit and catch sharpened me as a player as well. Since I was teaching it daily, I learned more about myself and my capabilities."

Mason temporarily resides in Rockford, Illinois where he journey to reach the dream of one day making the roster for a Major League team.

"I continue playing the game I love for the people I love. My parents, family and friends who continue to support and love me throughout my triumphs and hardships. It's those people who inspire me to continue pushing forward and giving back to those for the game I love."

During his free time he continues to find a way to better at baseball and  can find him at The South Bay Refinery Baseball and Softball Facility teaching athletes of all ages the game of baseball who could use it to further their own careers, which is in his future plans.

"I think the end game is to continue teaching baseball and helping others. Whether that's at a college or on my own. I love this game and I want to see others succeed at this game as well."

Since I've became friends with Mason, I learned that this guy is big hearted and really doesn't take anything for granted in life. One of the hardest working guys I've met. 

Good luck to Mason this season as he made it past the last cuts and was put on the 25-man roster for the Rockford Aviators

Thanks for your time Mason!

Jun

"Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is." -Bob Feller