Trip back to the Midwest

You always to stay humble...


After I found out that I wasn't going to be playing baseball overseas in Europe this summer, I told myself I wanted to travel more.

I talked to my co-workers at Fox Sports about where I should travel. Perhaps Europe? South America? Africa? Mexico? I didn't really know where I wanted to travel first.

As I was thinking about where to travel, I used stumbleupon.com to see what kind of places people travel to or unique places to go to. And what I really was looking forward to was traveling out of the country.

After nights of "stumbling," I became more overwhelmed of where to travel. There were just too many places to choose from.

So instead, I went in another direction and decided to go back to my old stomping grounds and visit some friends in Iowa instead.


I arrived to Iowa from be in 80 degrees and sunny SoCal to being 45 degrees in Des Moines, Iowa.

Just to keep it brief, I felt like I was on a tour.

Sarah and Emily. 

My friends Sarah picked me up from the airport in Des Moines, then the next day my summer roommate Alicia picked me up from Des Moines to go to Cedar Rapids. She was kind enough to let me borrow her car and drove to a restaurant to meet up with my roommates during college and their girlfriends. Then the first day in Cedar Rapids, I drove to the school to visit some people and surprisingly after a year and a half since my last visit, people remember who I was (crazy, right?). Then still on the same day, I met up with another teammate from Puerto Rico and catch up with him. Then the day after, went to go have lunch with my summer roommate and her parents when I was out in Iowa for an internship. Then met up with another roommate for dinner. (How about that for a tongue twister, and keeping it brief. Joe Sheller would definitely not be proud of this.) And now at this point, I still have one more night left to survive before I go back to LA.

Teammates from when I played at
Mount Mercy University

A lot of people would or did tell me, "Why Iowa?" But this trip back to the Midwest reminds me that I am blessed with friends around the world and I wouldn't give up anything for that. It also keeps me grounded from living in a city with a million people in it, where I personally take a lot of things for granted.

I wanted to thank everyone that went out of their way just to come say "hi" to me. It really meant a lot to me. I wouldn't be where I am at today without you guys.

Special shout out to Sarah Beck, Alicia Spurgin, Emily Roder, Vinnie Pantaleo, Jeff Dorman, Colin Johnson, Carlo Rivera and Elizabeth Sadler. I can't thank you guys enough.


Jun


“Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.” 
― Muhammad Ali

Dream that remains a Dream

Everything happens for a reason...


A lot of people might not have known, but after I got done playing baseball at Mount Mercy, even with no connections what so ever, I still had the itch to play.

After graduating from the Mount, I was still in Iowa during the summer of 2013, interning at a Newspaper company and playing semi-pro baseball on the weekends. One day, I was hanging out around school and ran into my coach. He was asking what I was up to and there I asked him if he had any connections to any professional teams, not the Major Leagues but other independent teams out there. He looked at me with a blank face and told me, "No."

Then in October 2013 2 months after I moved back to California, I went on a trip to Las Vegas to coach in a baseball tournament with a travel ball team that one of my college coaches started up. One of the guys that coached for the team just came back from playing baseball in France. On the last day of the trip, I introduced myself and asked him how he got in to playing at France. Of course, he had a track record of by starting in the Pecos League, then going to the American Association, then going over seas to play in Europe. When I asked him, he told me he went through a website and sent out an email with a resúme and couple of team got back to him.

After he told me about that, days after a got home from the trip, I started to send some emails to France, England, Germany, Russia, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and so on and so forth.

I waited about a couple of months before I got any reply back. But during the time I was waiting, my buddy Mason told me about a guy he knew and told me to get in to contact with him.

So I got in contact with a guy named Keith. He was basically a recruiter. When I talked to him, he laid down how much he wanted from me just to talk to a team, and if I made the team, there was a more money involved added to the negotiation. At the time, I was only a part time Production Assistant at Fox Sports so I didn't have much saved up, so I passed up on it. But while we were discussing the possibility of me finding a team, he mentioned the Pecos League.

Now, the Pecos League, if you haven't seen the show on Fox Sports 1, is a professional baseball league where undrafted players go to play if they didn't get pick up by any other teams in other leagues. So When Keith told me about the Pecos League, I checked out the website. There I saw a possible ticket in to playing professional ball. There was an ad saying there are try outs in the state of Texas during the month of February. But the thing was, it was about $2,500 for the try out for the whole month. I knew it was a long shot since money was at the issue again, but I emailed one of the manager of the team and got in contact with him. In the end, after talking to the manager from December to February, I didn't end up going, but found out one of my teammates from Mount Mercy went out there and made that team.

So back to talking about Europe. After the Pecos League fell through, my thought was, "Ok, I gave it a try. I guess I'm done."

Then in mid-April, I checked my email in the morning. I looked and saw that the email was from baseball team in France. And the weirdest thing was, this was one of the team I DIDN'T send a email to. But it was an opportunity to play again. But there was one problem.

I just got hired as a full-time employee at Fox Sports in late March.

If I was a part-timer, no questions asked. I would have packed by bags that day and left whenever they needed me. But that wasn't the case. So I talked to the manager, Manu, for about a week and a half. I had a hard time deciding since being full-time at Fox Sports means having benefits and the whole 9. Then again, in the end, since I replied to his email with an open-ended answer, he signed another player.

Some things just doesn't work out.

Then the Summer of 2014 came along and I was asked if I wanted to play in a local sunday league team for the summer. Even with the crazy schedule at work, I agreed to play.

Meanwhile, I kept in touch my my buddy that played in France while he was in season. Some bad news came from him that he just got released from the team, but found another team in Belgium couple of days later. He kept telling me I should try to still play if I can because you only get to play this game when you're young.

That got me thinking about playing again, so I sent a mass email to all the countries again. This time, I had teams reply back but saying they didn't really need a player or there are no roster spots. One team from Norway emailed me back actually trying to help me out to find a team through another recruiter, but things didn't work out there.

Then this past October (2014), a team from Sweden emailed me saying they were interested in me and wanted to speak with me. I had an interview via Skype and it went well. The GM who I spoke to, Johan, actually went to school at Santa Barbara City College for a year and played baseball so I thought we had a connection there.

2 months passed by and I didn't get a reply from him whether or not he was going to be on the team or not. But regardless of having the job at Fox Sports, I ready to let that go to go chase my dream.

Then finally on January 13th, my dreams got crushed. I got an email at midnight saying that they were gonna take another player instead.

My mind raced with a lot of thoughts. I killed myself for about 4 months to be in the best shape to play baseball if the opportunity came; I woke up extra early to go work out before I went to work at Fox; Off days weren't even off days. I should have took the offer from France when they asked me to play for them. Just a lot of things running through my head.

Until that point, I always worked towards something, like getting ready to play baseball. But now, I feel like I have more free time on my hands, I don't even know what to do. I guess I'll have to find another hobby. I'll get over that hunch sooner or later.

Shoutout to Brian Kohrogi, Taylor and Logan Gelbrich, Brian Ramirez, Chris Pascual, Ronnie Lopez, Mike DeMaria,  Jenny Valliere, Brian Collins and last but not least my family who was in support of all this. Can't appreciate how much it meant to tell me or allow me to chase my dreams. And it was that close!

Now that this is put to rest, what now?


Jun

The one change in 2015

2014 has been a grind for me.

For about 6 months of the year, I was working out 5 days a week (with some being two-a-days) and finally got hired full-time in March at Fox Sports.

It was a constant case of running around and then going to work. Even on my days off, I would go work out in the morning and then come home to realize my friends are either in school or they don't have week days off, so I end up working out again.

I felt my body getting exhausted but I kept pushing myself but felt in the best shape of my life, until I injured my arm (not sure what it is even until now). But it's set me back from going to the gym to workout or even go hit at the batting cage if I was bored.

In the last two weeks in 2014, I've done a lot of sitting around and thinking, but mostly itching to get back to working out.

But during that time I was just sitting around, I realized I never make time for myself. I'm usually at work 5 days out of the week, training with one of my buddies 3 days out of the week in the morning, going to CrossFit classes twice a week before the crack of dawn, and running errands on my days off. All the hours add up without realizing it and then a new week starts.

In 2015, I want to do something different. 

I always said to myself I want to travel. I see friends on Facebook post pictures of them going to different places and seeing the world. I envy them for that.

So this year, on my days off, Im going to try to start traveling a little more. Nothing big at first though.

I'm feel as if I'm always stuck in the South Bay, and haven't really seen much of the greater state of California. So first things I'm going start with is seeing different parts of California.

I don't know if I can do it every week, but I hope this goal lasts for the whole year.

Jun

A Lot To Be Thankful For

I am thankful for a whole lot of things...

Thanksgiving Day is a special day to look back and be thankful for all those things and special moments we had throughout so far in our short lives.

Thanksgiving 2012 in Iowa with my teammates

The Nation gives us a day to celebration at least one day where we allow most families to take a day off of work to gather around the kitchen table from distance or close by to have one big feast with the ones we love most.

This Thanksgiving, I was lucky enough get work off (since I work in the sports industry and sports never sleeps) and spend time with my family which I haven't got to in 3 years. 

In the past 3 years, I spend those 1st year spending Thanksgiving at my desk at school catching up on school work all day. The 2nd year, I had my first dysfunctional Thanksgiving with my teammates since we all couldn't go back to our respective places we call home. And the 3rd year, I spent it at work at a desk watching the Texas-Texas Tech game.

This year, I am thankful that I get to spend thanksgiving with my family (although I wasn't home for most of the morning and afternoon). Just being around them makes me realize I could have it much worse than where I am at right now.

I am thankful for a whole lot of things, not just on the day of Thanksgiving, but everyday of my family, all the things I have, the people I've met and the journey they have been through with me to become the person I am right now.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Jun

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." -Oprah Winfrey

Never let it rest

“Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best.”

Lately, I feel like I've been over working my body.

Since mid-August, I've been going to the gym 5 days a weeks after working unusual hours at work that usually go from 3pm to 12 am and sometimes later.

In July, one of my childhood friends asked me to work out with him because he wanted to get into shape. He was working out at a small gym in on the outskirts of Gardena and since I was told that a membership there was $100 dollars for a whole year, I felt like I found a gold mine. 

During that month, We decided to go to the gym at 8 or 9 am religiously depending on if we had work that morning or not. We also talked about setting a goal of some sort rather than just going to the gym to just lift.

In the same month, he took a little time off and went on a little vacation he had already planned out. During that time, I decided to go join Deuce Gym in Venice on top of having a gym membership in Gardena already.

A little crazy for some, right? Well, here's a little more craziness.

After my buddy Mason came back from his 2nd year of professional baseball in August, during my off days from work, I would go work out either at Deuce Gym or that gym in Gardena, then go to Mason's house to lift with him. 

Then on top of that, sometimes, I go hit at the batting cages or play basketball with some high school friends at the park.

The other day, I was at one of my high school friends house watching the World Series and Lakers game. I probably left an hour after I got there and he knows most of my routine I go throughout the day. Once I was heading out the door, he told me, "You gotta learn how to relax, man."

Once I got home, I thought about that.

Relaxing.

I honestly don't know what that is. For about 9 years starting from high school to college, I felt like I always had to prove myself to my peers and coaches to move my way up on the baseball team. IT felt like a never ending grind for those 9 years. Even on days off, I would either be working or at the gym trying to get better.

I feel like taking a day off is overrated. Granted, some days your body is going to need rest, some more than others. But for me, if I can help someone get better everyday of my life, I would sacrifice some sleep to wake up early for that.

As one of my coaches would say, "Always be better than yesterday."

Jun

Get to Know: Alicia Spurgin

During my time in Iowa, I have been grateful with all the friends I've made out there. But here is one in particular...

Alicia and I at some bar in Omaha, Nebraska

This is Alicia.

Why is this person special to me? Well, here's why...

Probably a month before walking at graduation, I found out that I had to do an internship in order to get my degree, which I could still walk at graduation but would have to get the internship done within the summer.

 I tried to find something out in Los Angeles but I couldn't reel anything in. 

Later when I could;t find an internship on my own, I talked to my advisor about an internship out in Iowa. He knew some connections and helped me get one at the Cedar Rapids Gazette in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

So that meant one thing: finding a place to live for the summer.

I asked my roommate from my 1st year at Mount Mercy University since he lived in a house and had a room opening up.

At first, I was all set up to move in with him, his now fiancée and a another roommate but he wanted me to stay there for a whole year which I wasn't planning to do.

So as it got closer to graduation, I was still homeless for the summer.

There was a house across the street from my school, which was the baseball house during the time I was there, I asked if I can live there but that fell through because the house because all the room were taken.

So one day I was with Alicia, talking to her about my situation for the summer.

When I mentioned that I needed a place to stay, she insisted of taking me in to her apartment for the summer. She said I would have to sleep on the futon in the living room but I couldn't refuse because she said I didn't have to pay rent but just pitch in for groceries every once in a while.

So on the day after my graduation, I packed everything in my car and moved in to Alicia's apartment.

During the time I moved into Alicia's and was her roommate for 3 months, one of my best memories I had with her was going to the College World Series with her and one of my teammates David.

Alicia, David and I with Mississippi State fans from Mississippi

When we were in Omaha, she wasn't a shy person so I knew she was going to talk to random people (And plus, majority of the midwest and southern people are super nice). Some people from Mississippi approached us and she started to mingle with them. Maybe if it weren't for Alicia being there, we wouldn't have made new friends from Mississippi. 

I never would have thought of going to Omaha during my life time, but thanks to Alicia and David, I could check that off the bucket list.

In brief, I couldn't be more grateful to Alicia with the kind act she has done for me. She provided me with a roof, food, and hospitality for the 3 months during the summer I was in Iowa. 

There's never a day that goes by where I don't think of how fortunate I am for having a friend like her.

Thank you Alicia for everything you have done for me!

Jun

Post grad: One year later

I remember packing my things and leaving the place I temporarily called home like it was yesterday...


August 15th.

That's when I left the small city called Cedar Rapids in Iowa for good. Well, not for good but wouldn't be living there anymore.

I packed everything I can in a tote, stuffed every clothes I have in a suitcase and threw whatever I couldn't put in the tote or in the suitcase anywhere I can in the car.

Right before I left, one of my teammates, David, bought shooters because everyone else was going to go out that night. He handed me one and said, "This might be the last time we might have a drink here together....To this summer." We raised the little shooter of fireball and I was on my way out.

Before I headed out the door, two of the girls that we hung out with all summer were also there. They both gave me hugs and teared up as I let go of them.

I never had someone cry for me because I was going away for good.

I want to say I left around 9 o'clock at night so I can get home to Los Angeles during the day.

The drive was pretty long. A 16 hour ride to Boulder, Colorado and slept for about 1 hour at my friends old apartment parking lot. Then, 14 hours to LA.

I came back to Torrance with no life plan drawn out.

...

One year later, I am now a full time highlights production assistant for Fox Sports 1. In other words, I cut/produce highlights to a certain game I am assigned.

During my time at Fox Sports 1 so far, I am not going to lie, it was tough (for me at least). I would try to put extra time in even though I knew I was going to get in trouble for it, didn't complain when I got assigned to cut a highlight for a fringe sports I never knew about until it forced me to watch it. In short, it was a daily grind with unusual hours.

Yeah, I put in the time and labor to get to where I am at today, but I can't take all the credit for that; it was everything in-between within this year that got me to where I am.

After coming back home to Torrance from Iowa, I just sat around and helped out around house, well I tried to.

Then I remembered my buddy Mason messaged me earlier that summer I was Iowa if I wanted to play on a summer team in Torrance. So I messaged him and asked him what he was doing.

Then, he was recovering from Tommy John surgery.

After a short talk with him, we decided that we would work out and hit together. In the hope of his arm getting better and me finding a independent baseball team to play for.

This all started in September and continued all the way April until he had to leave for pro ball in Rockford, Illinois. We would work out on religiously on Tuesdays and Thursdays, even if we were hung over from during the night before. It was something we didn't want to miss.

During those 7 months or so of training, we both saw improvements on our lifts and felt stronger. I think I lost about 10 pounds at my peak during this stretch, and of course, also because I was going to Venice to go workout at Deuce gym with my good friend Taylor every Wednesday of the month since I want to say November.

PR'd deadlift at 315#

Waking up at 7:15 a.m. every Wednesday morning was rough, especially after getting off work at 11:30 at the earliest! I would get ready, drive to Taylor's and he would drive both of us from there. And some time on the day of the work out, we both would have work afterwards.


I put my body through a lot of stress throughout that time and I'm not going to lie, I never felt 100% during that time.


Besides from those two things, I got to hang out with some friends from high school and the junior college I went to. Some more than others now, but it was good to see some faces at a least once within the year I got back home.


Also within the year I got back home, I received an email from a professional baseball team in France and asked me if I wanted to play for them. I would have no doubt left Fox Sports and played if I didn't just get hired as a full-time employee there. So I was in a pickle in that situation. Long story short, they signed another guy, probably because I was pretty indecisive with if I really wanted to quit my job or not. There was another time that I was told I could possibly play in Austria but I never got to the bottom of that.


One thing I did during the 12 months after graduating that I wanted to do for a while was go visit my relatives in Japan. It's been a decade since the last time I visited them, only because it was after one of my grandfather passed away. But when I finally visited the motherland during the month of March,    it was still for an family emergency.

My family and I found out one of my aunts (my uncle's wife) had cancer and had a couple months to live back in 2013, so we knew time was short for her. Also, my grandmother is very ill. She lives in a nursing home with bunch of other elderly, which they all taken of very well but when we visited her, she couldn't remember who we were at first. After we sat down and talked with her, she started to recognize who we were. I mean, I don't blame her because she hasn't seen us in 10 years or so.

Couple of weeks later after my family and I return to the states, I remember telling one of my cousin's husband to tell her happy birthday for me since she old school and doesn't seem to be in the social media world.

After a couple of hours passed by, he replied saying that my aunt has passed. I remember how everything went down because I was at work and was everything just turned upside down that day...


I've done other things throughout this 12 months as well, such as go to Las Vegas for the first time since I turned 21, actually signed up for a membership at a CrossFit box, went to my first postseason Dodger game, visit San Francisco for the first time just to name a few.

The futon I sleep on at my mom's apartment

I think I am in a good spot right now. I can't really be complaining about little things. But I am still living at my mom's apartment with my two sisters, sleeping on a futon in the living room which sucks but not having to pay rent is nice (I do help out around the house and buy things for the house from time to time).

Hopefully in the next 12 months, I hope for bigger and better things to come my way.

I still hope to look to somewhere to play professional baseball weather if it's a small independent team or overseas. If not, I hope I've gotten a promotion and found a place to live on my own.

Until then, I just have to keep plugging away.


Jun


"Success is about dedication. You may not be where you want to be or do what you want to go when you're on the journey. But you've got to be willing to have vision and foresight that leads you to an incredible end."