Many dreams came true for kids who had worked their whole lives for them in this past week. On June 9 through the 11, Major League Baseball had its annual First Year Player Draft to comprise the teams' respective minor league systems with the next wave of prospects and young stars. Taylor Kaczmarek overcame Leukemia and had his name called in round 40 of the draft.
Personally, I have grown up around baseball and been involved in the sport since before I could walk (no, seriously), so seeing people I recognize and know get drafted or play in the major leagues isn’t that crazy or far fetched of an idea now as it was for younger me. I have played with some people who have been drafted (most recently Walker Olis - you go Walk), but more specifically players my older brothers had played with in their youth travel ball days, whom I bat-boyed for or kept score in the dugout during their games with, are becoming big time players. I knew already their teams were really good, considering no one ever wanted to play them, and now, kids they have played with have become recognizable names to most. Kids I knew at age twelve, becoming household names, like Bryce Harper (Outfielder, Washington Nationals), Zach Davies (Pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers), Austin Hedges (Catcher, San Diego Padres), and Tommy Joseph (Infielder, Philadelphia Phillies), and so many others whom are working through the minor leagues to achieve their own dreams of playing professional ball.
As per usual there were a lot of feel good stories in this year's draft, as there are so many in any draft, but another former teammate of my brother's got his name called this past draft and for him it wasn’t the easiest of roads. Taylor Kaczmarek played on my brother's travel ball team since age nine, when it was started as a small group in Arizona, till about fifteen years old when they became a national powerhouse in the travel ball circuit. I remember him specifically, because he always sat by me and would commentate on my score book or whatever food or drink remnants I had on my face from my meal that day. He always was a very kind person and he always was very, very good at baseball. This was the kid who was selected as the Gatorade Arizona Player of the Year in 2010 (he joined the likes of Derek Jeter, Chipper Jones, and David Price among many others to be given the award in their respective state).
Kaczmarek was taken in round 50 of the draft that year but opted to attend South Mountain Junior College in Arizona to improve. Skipping the bore of the baseball numbers and technical mumbo jumbo, just trust me when I say he had two great seasons and was improving his draft stock quickly. Before the draft, Kaczmarek went to a doctors appointment because of a sore foot, what was at first thought to be just tendonitis, later revealed a blood clot in his leg. His blood-work would later reveal Leukemia. His draft stock of course fell, and this was the first time he was taken in round 40 by the Kansas City Royals. Instead, he chose to attend University of San Diego where he redshirted his first year and did chemotherapy. The following season, following spot appearances and chemo pills, spinal taps, and trips back home to Arizona, he was shut down. He would bounce back the next season; totaling 31 innings pitched, and in his last two starts for the Toreros, would go six innings, and seven innings against San Diego State and Long Beach State respectively; even taking a no hitter into the fifth inning against rival San Diego State. He would help lead the team down the stretch into the West Coast Conference Championship.
In his last season as a graduated senior, Kaczmarek totaled 43 innings pitched and his lone decision on the season was a single win, something that foreshadowed things to come for him. The Kansas City Royals selected Taylor in the 40 round of the 2016 draft, ironically on the same day he would be engaged, giving one of the most deserving humans I know the opportunity to continue his baseball career at the professional level. Congrats to you Kaczmarek - you beat Leukemia and I’m sure June 11, 2016 will be a day you never forget.
