My Story…

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Hi I’m Kenny Roder, someone who’s dreams of becoming an MLB Pitcher was just inches away. I was born and raised in the Birthplace of Baseball, Hoboken,NJ. Throughout my baseball career I was always the smallest on the field, but I had the biggest heart. I was one of those annoying kids that constantly begged my brothers and sister to play with me. I never had enough. All I wanted to do was play baseball.

   On days that nobody wanted to play, I would play alone, I would pick up rocks, bottles or anything that I could throw. I would challenge myself “If I don’t hit this stop sign 5 times in a row, I can’t go home.” I would be there until I hit it 5 times. Didn’t take me that many tries. In Little League I was 9 years old pitching complete games and even got MVP of my team. I was always working on my craft, I had that drive that not many other little leaguers had.

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Fast forward to freshmen year of high school, the varsity head coach tells me, “Next year little man”. So I worked my butt of because I knew I could’ve competed on the varsity level, but I was “too small”.          

   Sophomore year rolls around and It took my 1st bullpen for the Head coach to say “I should’ve brought you up to varsity your freshmen year”. That year I became the ace I threw 2 no hitters and a Perfect Game. Junior year, I threw another Perfect Game, went 11-1 with a 1.27 ERA coming 3 strikeouts shy of the school record, and pitching the team to a County Championship.

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Senior year, now I know the year prior I had an outstanding season so I was second guessing if I can have another great season like I did. That thought crossed my mind and within a blink of an eye until my confidence kicked in and I told myself I was going to make my junior year look like crap compared to my senior year.My goal was to get drafted that year.

   I had the season I imagined. I went 11-0 with an 0.79 ERA. Pitched another Perfect Game, but this time in front of the Cincinnati Red’s Scout. He told me “I’m Amazing but too small”. The season went on and I broke the School strike out record (139) with 191 strike outs. I won North Jersey Pitcher of the Year. I had offers from a handful of colleges but I didn’t hear anything from the MLB.

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My phone rings in the middle of August it’s a “405” area code, Big Spring Texas. I was offered a full ride scholarship to play a the juco powerhouse, Howard Colleg. I played my two seasons there  and in my second season I went undefeated and All-American. WJCAC Pitcher of the Year. I was a top 50 pitcher in the country that season. I was talking to a few scouts and they all said “If you were 5 inches taller, you would be a first round draft pick.” I didn’t get drafted.

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   After graduating from Howard College, I went to St. Thomas University, Miami Garden, Florida. I had a tremendous season.I was talking to the Chicago Cubs, area scout and he falls in-love with how I played. I had to fill out a bunch of paperwork and forms. I was on a roll, throwing 9 inning complete games back to back to back until I felt a deep pain in my shoulder. I had to sit out the rest of my Senior year. I still managed to get nominated as pitcher of the week a couple times and All-Conference. Now, Senior year is over, my wonderful career I had just ends like that? My school takes me to do doctors after the season and I was given two cortisone shots in my arm. I take the next 3 weeks off.

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It’s Draft day, Senior year. I’m waiting to hear my name get called from the Cubs in the later rounds since I did get injured the season prior. The draft is almost over, and I’m not getting any calls. My hopes were quickly dropping. The draft ends and I didn’t get a call.

   I call up the Cubs scout, he tell’s me “ I’m sorry buddy but we took your name off our draft board since you got injured this season” When I heard that I was heartbroken. He then tells me “ Stay near your phone these next few days, you may get free agent spot”. Two weeks go by and I get a call from the Sussex County Miners, an Independent Ball Team. The manager wants me to come throw a bullpen in front of his coaching staff. I haven’t been throwing since I got my cortisone shot, so I began to panic. I go down there without throwing in 3-4 weeks and threw my bullpen. He signed me after throwing 10 pitches, and I started the next night!

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I got signed 25 games into their season. Hopped right onto their starting rotation without even preparing myself since I was recovering from my injury. I pitched the rest of the season with pain. My velocity was down, my command wasn’t the same but I was sure as hell competing my butt off every start The trainers would ask me “how do you feel?” and I would respond “ Great”. There was no shot I was going to say I was injured because I would’ve been released and that was the last thing I wanted.

  It was the final series of the regular season and I had the ball. I had so many hometown fans that night watching me, the First inning, 1-2-3 inning with 9 pitches, all strikes, 3 strikeouts. next inning 1st batter, I threw a Slider and I immediately felt a burning, numbing and tingling feeling down my arm and into my fingers. My arm went dead for 30 seconds. I waved at the trainer and told him to pull me out. At that very moment I knew my career was over.

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I was sitting in the locker room thinking to myself “ I never thought I would be in this situation when I knew my baseball career had came to an end.”.

What do I do now? I used my intuition to figure out my next move. I decided to help the younger generation with my knowledge. I have the fire inside me to bring out the best in each player. Now I make people lives better by training them and bringing out the best in each individual. See you soon.

- Kenny Roder