2 Rings in 2 Days

In the last two days I have had the distinct priviledge of participating in two different championship ring ceremonies. I realize that I am lucky to have not only had the opportunity to play in three championship series' in my first two years of professional baseball, but to win all three as well. The luck only goes so far though, I know these three championships are a stronger reflection of the strength of players, in regards to both skills and strength of character, that I get to take the field with every day and the quality of coaching and mentoring that we recieve in the Phillies minor league system. You don't win championships on accident or by being lucky, especially in baseball when a season is 142+ games.

The ceremonies were both short and sweet, with personel, coaches and players being introduced and given their rings on the field prior to the big league game's start. The last two days, the big team  has been playing the Yankees and the Red Sox, so needless to say, the crowds were both large and supportive of our efforts and gave both teams nice ovations as we walked on and off the field. It was yet another example of the impressive support that Phillies fans give our organization.

Today was the Gulf Coast League ring ceremony and admittedly I am slightly lucky to be on the list of players recieving rings, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that its really just a matter of perspective. From most people's perspective, yes, its lucky, I showed up at the right place at the right time. From my perspective, I had to enure having my ulnar snapped in half in order to end up rehabbing with the GCL team. Im happy that I played well and got to help all those guys, who endured a grueling season of 12pm games in the Florida sun for more than two months, win a championship. I made some great friends in the process too.  Not only did I have to endure the breaking of my arm, but I also had to work very hard and stay very focused when I was at home rehabbing and healing my arm in order to put myself in position to return to the field  before the season was over instead of shutting it down for the rest of the year, which many people told me I should do and which it appeared medically speaking would be the only possibility.

Im proud to say that today and yesterday's ring ceremonies and the rings themselves, serve as personal reminders that when life throws you a curveball, its all about how you handle it that makes you a champion.