MLB Player Ryan Kalish on Dreams, Resilience, and Work Ethic

What's up?

Thank you guys so much for joining me. This is my boy and Major League baseball player, really good buddy of mine, Ryan Kalish. Ryan, how are you, buddy?

Man, I'm good. It's good to see you. It's good to be here, dude.

It's so good to see you too. That's the beauty of these Skype calls, man. I feel like you're right there. Yeah. So to let the audience know you are a Major League baseball player, but you have a unique story of resilience, perseverance, where you have battled back several times from injury, from people counting you out, and the story, the theme of my podcast, is I've had so many grinders that I'm friends with as far as whether it's entertainment industry, whether it's athletics, whether it's health and fitness, people rebounding from injury, from setbacks, mental stuff, whatever it is. I love resilience. I love people that battle through certain things, certain situations and come out on top. And you're a perfect example of that. And I would love it if you could just shed some light to my audience on your story and just kind of, you know, take it all from scratch, where it all began and where you're from. And, you know, Ryan was a very good high school quarterback. You were heavily recruited in football as well. So, yeah, get into your whole story to kind of just let my audience know where you're from and what you're all about.

Yeah, man. So I was born in Northridge, California, moved to New Jersey young. My dad got a new job, so I was raised there. I always loved sports. I always loved running. I always loved, you know, just being outside. It was just like, you know, obviously school was there, but like, I loved, loved to run. And so sports came to me. Baseball was the number one thing. As soon as I think I was like four, my mom said I had a Nerf, Nerf bat and ball, and that was the end of that. So, anyway, you fast forward all these years, right, and it's just so crazy as to think about that. That was such a raw love right there and to be where I've been at. So, anyway, got drafted by the Red Sox out of high school, and injuries have always been my thing, but I had about four years. I had a four year old point where from 19 to 22, I was healthy. And it was awesome, dude. Learning each level, all the little ins and outs of baseball. And then 2010 comes around, you get called up, you're 22 years old and you're Playing with these guys. I was playing against Felix Hernandez when he was. I could go on and on, and it was so fun. But the cool part was that I respected it so much, but I knew I could hang. It was like, I can do this. I remember that feeling, like, shoot, if I can play this game long enough. So anyway, at that point, through first five years, I had one surgery. So now on the back end, we're at another five years.

What was that surgery?

That surgery was a minor hamate bone removal. It wasn't even that big of a deal.

Oh, so you had the hamate. Was that right or left hand?

Right hand, 2007.

Okay, so right hand, that's like. That's your extension. So how did that affect you hamate bones to the audience out there? A lot of people, I think now the technology on that surgery has gotten better, but that's. I mean, there are people who've flat out lost their. A lot of bad speed, a lot of power from losing their hamate. Right. Or from. Yeah. Having to get that. That surgery done. Right. Yeah.

Yeah, man. That was one of those. Yeah, that one's a big one. I mean, it can, you know, obviously, if it's done right, it's a quick heal, but if you get a nerve touched or something, it's definitely messed with people.

Yeah. Yeah.

So anyway, first five years, we're good. You know, we're pretty healthy. We make it to the big leagues. And then 2011 comes, and since then, I've had this will be my 11th surgery in, like, five years.

Really let that sink in. That's. I mean, not you. I'm talking to my audience. I mean, 11 surgeries, that's. I don't even. I mean, not that it makes a difference. Are those like local? Are those being put under? Like, how many times have you been put under? And I mean. Because that takes a lot out of you too, man.

I mean, these are all full fledged surgeries. Like, all injury.

Oh, my God. Anesthesia. I mean, or not, but like the local anesthesia. Wow, man. That takes a toll on itself. And that's a very, you know, that's a very risky whole endeavor as it is. You know, signing that paper with. I forget the. The guy who monitors your heart, every beat, who I for.

It's.

I forget. It's just. It's a trip to me, you know, just before I got put under. Because your whole life is. Man. So 11 surgeries let the audience know about the. You showed me a picture one time. Ryan showed me a picture one time. Of your neck surgery, which still has, right there, a few screws in it.

Yeah, I think there's four screws and a metal plate. You know, like, they replaced the neck. Funny enough, that one was easy.

Wow. How like, I mean, it was like.

You laid, you know, you laid down. That was. And you did core. Like, it was chill. And then like. But I never had a neck brace. They were like, you can start moving tomorrow. Like, so that one, I mean, it's scary and it's real and it can be effective. Like, I know Prince Fielder, I think he's having. He had this surgery, but now he's having another level fuse. So it can definitely affect. But as far as, like, recovery is concerned, like, it was pretty chill, like, shoulders, because I had both those done. Those will take. I didn't feel good for my left shoulder for about 19 months.

Was that labrum or was it rotator? What happened to your shoulders?

Yeah, I had labrum repairs on both sides.

Both?

Yeah.

Oh, man. I had a buddy of mine at Berkeley who had one labrum tear, and I swear it was a year and a half for him to get back. We were. He was doing all the, you know how it is. Those, like, funky little exercises that you have to do that are, you know, with a little tennis ball can full of sand, you know, getting the little. Your little ligaments and tendons back. But yet it's just. It's time, you know, it's. It's. It's time, you know, getting a little. Well, that's a big one. But getting injuries that, you know, people, you know, are wondering, hey, you know, it's the worst thing because when. Maybe it's different professionally when you're. When you're playing at such a high level and you really are looking at it as a job. But I remember guys were like, how's your. Are you. I mean, how's it. How's it today? You know what I mean? Like, the worst thing is how you feeling? I'm like, it was so frustrating to me, and that actually led me to always wanting to come back so soon so quickly because I was so tired of people asking me, how's it going? Like, dude, it's not going to get better, you know, in a week or two. I mean, this is a serious. I had a partially tone rotator. Yeah. So with just things like that, it was just especially a partial tear when they're like, you can. You can kind of fight through it with exercise and maybe ice and stem, but, man, it's just, It's Frustrating. So I want to know, like, what type of. I mean, mentally, what did you do to kind of. I know you have a great support system with family and friends that know your ability, know and believe that you. Especially when you make it to the big leagues such an early age, the potential is clearly there. And I just, you know. But 11 surgeries, you would think that at some point. Some people. Some people. And I think that that's why. That's what I love about you. Some people give. I just. It never even came into my mind. You know, you'll get into your current situation, but it's just like, you know, you're gonna do it. You're gonna make it happen. And I'm not alone with that. You know, a good friend, John Baker, who was our first guest on this show, he said the same thing. You know, you're gonna. Whatever it takes. This. This, for whatever reason this is, this is happening to lead to a better purpose. I really believe so. Just. Just if you could share what you did to. To get through it mentally, especially when your. Your. Your zest. What. Your. What you identify as. As. As being an athlete. I mean, maybe. Maybe you did it, but that's what I'm assuming. I guess that. And then kind of. Does it scare you that potentially it could have been taken away and then 11 times. How do you fight through that?

Well, dude, it's all cycle, right? I mean, for me, I think it's. For anybody who's listening, it's not. You go through phases, right? I'll share later about my current situation, but you kind of get sad. It's not easy. You get, you know, mentally, you're just frustrated. You know, the thing that I always try and do is just kind of keep it all in perspective, is to, like, just kind of look around in the world and just see what's going on. And even sometimes, like, that might not necessarily make you feel better, but I feel like if you're acknowledging that, then it's like, a really cool thing because, you know, I don't know. I just. That's just my opinion. Like, if I'm. I'm acknowledging that, like, that guy on the corner has a really rough gig, but, like, I yet keep driving and I'm really, like, anxious and kind of sad and, like, not like, where I'd like to be. And that's like, I feel like that's enough because, you know, everybody's situation's relative. So anyway, you go through that. You go through that phase, right? Like, kind of where I'm at now, which we'll get into. But then, you know, always what floats in the back of my mind is like, I still get to do what I love. Even though it's been 11 times. It's 11 times. And I'm, you know, this is. This is my last try, right? Like, I'm pretty fatigued mentally, which is, I think it's good to say to, you know, it's like, cool. Like, what am I going to deny that fact? Like, but the resiliency part just comes from, like, just fighting, you know? You know, like, that fight. Like, it's like this. This was my fight, and I'm going to do it, and that's it. Like, I love baseball. Like, I keep getting little tastes of it, you know. This year I got back to the big leagues. I hadn't played in two years. Like, 50 at bats in triple A. Like, I'm like, all right, I can do this. You know? And so anyway, it's just. Yeah, it's what I love to do, man. It's just a beautiful thing. And I know that. I'm super blessed to be able to say, like, from what I, like, loved when I was 4. I'm doing at 28 years old. So it's kind of a, you know, one of those things. Like, it might, you know, suck for a while, but the payoff at the end of this is it just makes me feel good.

Oh, man, you said it right there. Perspective. And a lot of people don't have that, and that's okay. I mean, the goal of this is to hopefully instill some of that perspective into others. When you realize you can chew, you can smile, you can walk, we can eat, we're still here. Do you. Nobody fucked up. Things happen to beautiful people daily for being wrong place, wrong time. You know, how good we have it. You said it, man. That's. That is. Man, I just got goose. It's unbelievable that to me that I can't have little small talk, complaining conversations with people about certain things that bother because I'm so stoked and happy to be able to do what I love. You know what I mean? Every day. And I. So, man, I get you. I mean, when I was leaving the hospital, this one of my nurses told me, he's like, hey, I just want to let you know, any day that you can walk out of a hospital is a good day. And this is right after I left Cedar Sinai for my accident. And, man, I was kind of. Was kind of feeling down, but, man, that was the last thing he said to Me before I hopped into my sister's car and they drove me home and that was it. But when he's so right, it's like I don't have. I didn't have anything to complain about then. Sure, my jaw was wired shut and I was in a little bit of pain, but I could walk. My jaw, these. These wires were going to get taken out, my plates were going to get taken out and I was going to be able to chew again, and it was going to take time. But, man, it's like you, you know, you. I know you find a way to put it in your head to maintain that perspective. And it's. It's so refreshing to hear that word perspective and just expressing gratitude. And it's exactly what you said. Even if it's not to your own situation. It's good to just let that out to the universe that you understand that you've been blessed with a gift that is just.0001% people get to experience. I don't understand. Well, I understand how to get people down for a little bit, but just to have that mindset of, look, it's, you know, that guy in the corner has it so much worse than you. You have to go rehab. Rehabilitate to an injury to keep going back to get the opportunity to play and fight and earn another spot. I was eating lunch with you this time last year, I want to say, and we were kind of, you know, in Venice and like, we weren't really. We didn't really. You didn't really know your situation. And you didn't. I don't think you knew your situation up until March this year, outside of maybe going and playing independent ball in Sioux City, Iowa, I believe it was. And then you get the call to an invitation to spring training from the Cubs, and then you killed it. I mean, from what I heard from a couple people, you almost broke camp with the Cubs, but then you got assigned to the Iowa Cubs, the Triple A affiliate. You destroyed it over there and then got called up. I don't even. What month was that that you got called? It was it. Was it May?

Yeah, May.

I mean, come on. Season starts April 1st. That's ridiculous, man. I mean, I. I'm blown away a lot, but that one really shook me up in the best way possible. When I saw that, I was really emotional, man. Like, I know, you know, I'm serious when I say that. Like, it's just. I love great people who win, you know, and. And who grind and like, I know I've met your Mother. And. And I know just how you are as a human, but also just your mindset. There aren't too many good dudes out there in the game. I mean, actually, that's not true. I mean, there are, but it's just, like, there are also a lot of, you know, I don't know, but, like, I just. I love seeing good, good humans win and that work hard for their goals, and then they. Seeing that dude, that was extremely cool for me. And I can't even imagine what it was like for you to. I mean, you really put yourself back from a couple months earlier. You thought you were going to play independent baseball with, you know, in Sioux City, Iowa, next month. Month and a half later, you're in the show, walking up to Deadmau five with the flow. I mean, I just. I love it, man. I had a great little visual there going, and it was. It was pretty cool for me just to see. So walk us through that series of emotions that go from moving from here to getting that invite to spring training, Just that momentum, that mentality that's got to be overwhelming in the best way.

Well, what's really nice is I also. I played winter ball.

Oh, that's right. Okay.

Yeah. But the winter ball was really good, right? Because I was trying all this new stuff with my swing, and it kind of gave me just this, like, I have to be my own hitter. Right? So it was a really critical time. I did really bad. Okay. I did really bad, and I needed to do bad, but it was so nice to have that be my, like, pre spring training. Spring training?

Yeah.

By the time I was in, you know, at the end of winter ball, I picked it up, and then I got, you know, I went home, was just working out. No one signed me. I had a private workout with the Cubs. I probably had the best batting practice I've ever taken.

Where was this? At Arizona?

Yeah. So, like, you know, everyone. All the front office was out there, and it was. It was so much fun. And they offered me a job right then and there, so. And the other part, too, is I wasn't invited to major league spring. I was in minor league spring, which is fine. Like, if you have that mentality. Like, you know, I've been in, I think, probably like, seven straight major league camps. And some guys would be like, I don't know. I just feel like they'd be upset about that. But, dude, I was the happiest, like, just grinding it out. I didn't care where I was. I was meeting good people, like, good teammates. And, yeah, in spring training, in my early spring training at aaa, I just. I mean, dude, it was crazy. I was hitting, like. I think I hit, like, five homers in, like, 15 games.

Like, what?

Yeah, it was. It was awesome. It was really good.

And I think you flew out to the. I don't know.

What was it tracking? Yeah, but I. So I was like, feel. You know, I felt like, really. I felt. That's what we're, like, talking about here. If you can. I feel like if you can find something in whatever it is that you do that you believe and feel good about. I found my routine. I found out through the time that I was hurt, too, what I needed to do as a human being to be my best performer. And that's what I figured out this year for years before. You're just going through life. You're a kid, dude. I can't go out and have drinks. You know, it's just like. But, you know, a big part of baseball is, like, going out with the boys. But, like, dude, I got to get my sleep, man. I'm not young anymore. You find out that stuff and you feel so good about it.

Yeah.

And so you're doing your thing out there, and it was just such a nice feeling. The crazy part was, was that I was actually kind of hurt right before I got called up. So I already knew that I was, like, in trouble with my body before I went up, which, you know, it's just one of those things that you just, you know, I still had a blast up there. I had such a good time, but I knew that it was just a matter of time before, like, my body wasn't going to allow me to play and that I was going to have to figure out what it was. So, like, the time that I was up in the big leagues was so interesting because I knew already that I was in trouble.

Like, that's gotta be. So to the audience out there. Well, first off, how about my sweet Cub shirt?

That thing is sweet, man. Oh, did you get that from Baker?

No, I got it from Ramirez.

Oh, nice.

I think John Lester made him for the team or something, but. Yeah. So to the audience out there, what. Ryan. Ryan, do you want to let them know what. What ultimately happened after getting called up and.

Yeah, yeah. So, I mean, I got. You know, I loved. I had such a good time up there. I went down and tried to play a little bit, tried to get my. To get my body going. I actually, also, in the time period that I got. This is crazy, but the time period that I got called down or sent down. I got. I had appendicitis. I had surgery right after I got sent down, which was just really. Also, it kind of felt like it was going to be good luck because I thought it was going to give my knee some time to heal.

Oh, I see what you're saying. Without having to let anybody. Okay.

Well, no, yeah, I just was like, oh, nice. All right. I'm going to get a breather. I'll get three weeks off, and maybe my knee will feel better. Sweet. But. And I had such good rehab, you know, it was like everyone was trying to take such good care of me. It was awesome. But when I. Yeah, it just didn't work out, you know? So once I started, you know, working out down in Iowa, trying to get my body going, we just knew, like, I just knew that I was in trouble. Like, it wasn't going to work. Actually. I was in Arizona at that time at the spring training complex, and. And it just wasn't going to work. I went to run, and it was bad. So, yeah, now I'm on a. Yeah. Shoot. Now I live in Vail, Colorado, and I'm currently waiting a donor for a cadaver piece in my knee. So a really crazy thing, but somebody is going to. You know, somebody's going to donate their life. Like, once they're dead, they're going to give me part of them, which is just crazy. I don't even like to think about it, man. It's just sad. But once that happens, I'll get a call, and it'll be about three to five days notice to where I'll go under and they'll replace that. They're also going to break. They're going to break the tibia and reset it. It's called an osteotomy. So basically, it's going to realign, like, degree angle of my. My leg to my knee so that it puts less pressure on the inside portion.

So just right or left leg.

It's my right leg.

Your tibia is that thick.

Thick bone right underneath, right under. It's like your shin bone. Your shin bone. Yeah.

Jeez. They're gonna pr. That's. To make sure that when you land, when you run, it's straight. Like, it's. I guess I. Is it. I guess there when you land? Is this, like, more pressure on a certain angle of your foot when just naturally. That's your running gait or like, how does that. Are they trying to lengthen or straighten that out so that doesn't put so much pressure on your foot, which your knee reacts to and essentially may cause that injury to happen again. I mean, is that why they're doing that?

Yeah. So it'll just take a little bit because they're going to put some extra. They're going to replace part of my femur bone and the cartilage surrounding it with the cadaver. So it's essentially giving me better support and also taking a little bit of pressure off that spot. So that over the longevity, over a lifetime, it'll be good. Apparently. It's really good to have at this age. Like, it's going to be. Yeah. And I'm going to, you know, I'm going to stay here and do the rehab, you know, because this surgery is so, you know, it's different. Like, it's not a really common baseball injury. So I'm going to be here with this team for at least the first six months of the recovery and just get myself, because, you know, again, it's. We're in Vail, Colorado, at the Steadman Clinic. It's just like a really. A lot of people come through here, but I just, you know, this is for. This is for all the marbles, man. Like, I'm going, like, I got one last run in me. I want to. I think it's just best to do it right here. And, you know, everyone else has been so supportive of that. Yeah, it's cool, man. I'm excited. Yeah. I mean, I'm not excited, but I'm excited to feel better.

Right. And it's got to be encouraging because when you. You were locked in and, you know, I mean, not only in your mind, from what I've heard from a number of people who scouted you, that's got to be hard for Baker to, like, go there and evaluate you, you know, like. Because to the audience out there, John Baker is a former major league baseball player who is doing. He's a special assistant for the Chicago Cubs, but they had him go and evaluate Ryan Kalish, who was a teammate of his two years ago. But Baker gave a glowing, honest review in very intricate detail of just how you were at the plate. You were very sound, very good contact. You were playing above the level of, you know, triple A baseball, which he's a major league baseball player. So it's got to feel good knowing, like you said, like, oh, as soon as you got called up when you were 22, like, that feeling of, look, I got this, I could do this. If I keep at this, I can do this for a long time type deal. Like, that's got to feel encouraging. But naturally, you know, our human instincts probably, you know, a little bit of a letdown, but for however long that takes you. But, man, that's when the resilience comes in. And you've done this time and time again. I'm excited for you, and I just, like, I want. Are there any type of. What's your average day like right now, waking up? And how does nutrition play a part as far as reducing that inflammation? Do you have any type of routine? Do you have any mental. Do you meditate? Do you do any type of drills just to kind of keep your mind right? What do you do for optimal health going into this surgery, which will probably go into it as good as you can, you're probably going to get out. Optimal level of health on the back end.

Yeah, man. It's all about choices.

Right now.

Honestly, what I'm up to is you wake up having a really good egg dish with some oatmeal and fruit, straight to the gym. I mean, I'm very limited right now.

Just beach workout all day or what?

Yeah. But you know what, dude? I'm noticing.

Are you jacked right now or what?

Yeah, I'm a little bit. I got a little bit of size going on here. I got some beef going on, man, that.

Oh, boy, dude.

Yeah, stretching, man. I'm trying to go in my hips in optimal form. I actually really need to tone down the upper body because with everything else, dude, I'm getting tight, man. My shoulders are tight, so I'm kind of toning that down. But your body weight, trx, just staying active, man. There's really no particular program. But again, the nutritional part, always just making the best choices because right now I'm trying to do as much as I can. Right.

Yeah.

That has me at the restaurant. You just got to look at. Looking at the menu and just making the right choice. For me, meditation is just being outside for right now, but I need to get into this meditation and stuff like that. I think it would be really good for me in a lot of areas.

You seem like a very cerebral dude. I could see that. I could definitely see that. All you have to do is close your eyes. There's different definitions for meditation. Maybe I should get into some yoga or something like that. I hit the inversion table every morning, listen to the same song. Bulletproof Soul every morning by Sade. Dude, it's my little. It's my thing. You know what it does? It's that perspective. I look at the same thing that I saw Back when I was, you know, jaw wired shut, just trying to get the scar tissue out, reduce that. That inflammation and get, you know, my swelling down. I look at the same top of that mountain when I come back up from the inversion table that I did five years ago when I was in a dark state, dude. So I set the tone of my day, for my day, every morning by doing that in a good way. Because I know it's like you said, we're extremely blessed and lucky to be doing what we do. And it's just. That's a good. That's a great way to start off the day. I usually talk to family and it's like, man, it's just everything. I'm very appreciative of my situation and I know you are, too. It's just like, dude, things could be worse. As long as we're sitting here breathing, we're able to chew. Like, we could eat, we can go smile. You got people to care about you and love you. Like, it doesn't suck, dude. So it's good to have that, man, because there's so many people just. I heard somebody say, why me? The other day, referring to some injury. I don't know if it was on social media or something. I just can't relate to that mentality. But teach their own or whatever. But yeah, I love that, man. It's good to see the main thing for this was to show people not only just. I don't know if you heard this growing up, I saw pictures of you and the perfect game and area code. So you were pretty heavily recruited coming out of high school. So there was that. You were eighth round pick by the. By the Red Sox.

Ninth.

Okay. Ninth round pick. And, you know, you came up with some big names and made it to the big leagues in under five years. I mean, that's huge. So you had the opportunity. Were you on one of the World Series teams with the Red Sox or was that after. Technically.

Technically, yeah, but I wasn't, you know, I was hurt the whole year. That year I had a right. No, my. Yeah, my right shoulder and also that neck surgery. So I was on the team, but I was in Florida the whole time.

Did you get a ring?

Yeah.

No way.

Yeah.

No way. I didn't know that. That's awesome, dude. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I remember you telling me some good. That's. You know, that was a squad, right? Did you like Wakefield, uclis, Ortiz, Pedroya? Right. Were they all on there?

Oh, man, we had.

Was Damon on there?

No, not Damon, but the first Team I was on was just, like, I was the youngest by a mile.

But those are. Those are the people I mentioned were characters. I mean, right? Like eucalyptus. I can only imagine that locker room. I don't even know these people, but I have a feeling ukuleles is a little bit of a wild child. So. Eucalyptus, Wakefield, Ortiz, Pedroia. I mean, Veritech. I mean, that's just. It's got to be a good chemistry feeling in there. So how did that. How did that go for you? Were you kind of just minding your own business, going about being a rookie and owning that, or.

Yeah, dude, you gotta own it. If you don't own it, you have no shot. Like, I mean, obviously, if you play.

Well, but you gotta.

You gotta know, man, these guys, like. And that's. I just see what, like, when I'm at these games, right? When I'm even just on the bench, I'm watching, like, I'll never. I just remember watching Hanley Ramirez once, and I was. It was 2014, I was on the Cubs, and I'm watching this guy, and I'm just like, you know, I've been at this point, I'm like, 10 surgeries in, maybe nine. Whatever, it doesn't matter. But just, like, watching it just to see, like, for somebody to be up and good for that long is just so special. Like, it's just. It's crazy how hard it is to be there anyway.

Yeah.

Like, when you have that going on, you. If you don't respect that, it's crazy to me. And, like, for me, I just was quiet and I let people say things to me and did well, you know, like carrying waters and beers and, you know, bags, whatever. Like.

Yeah.

So anyway, that was easy. But I would, like. I don't know, I just. You have to be just super aware of what you're up to and, like, who you're talking to, because that's something that I think gets lost. It's getting more lost. Is the seniority thing and the respect, would you say? Yeah, no, I. Like, well, yeah, I mean, you got young teams, you know, it's.

Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I could see that, I guess, when you don't really. If you don't have that awesome seniority, that leadership that you.

It doesn't matter. You know, it's not. Like, they're like, I was. I came up like that. But, like, other people, they come up and it's. It's cool. Like, there's none of that. Which actually probably would be pretty nice, to be honest. With you. Like if you come up and you don't have to deal with us really crazy and just being, you know, being super, you know, being a real rookie, like that's got to be nice too.

Yeah.

Be a bad experience.

So I do have. So I would. What is your best baseball moment that sticks out in your mind right now? What's your all time number one moment baseball that you couldn't even sleep that night? I remember when Baker homered off Brian Wilson. He said he had to take a Lunesta because he had so much adrenaline going in his system. He went oppo taco off a 99 mile an hour fastball at AT&T park in front of his family. So what is yours? What is your all time baseball so far up to date? Best moment.

Oh man, that's probably just the first day in the big leagues. Yeah, it was a super, it was awesome. We had like a 3:30 flight in Toledo to get back to Pawtucket. Right. So we're up at like we're finished a night game. We slept for like two hours. You do the two flights, get off the bus in Pawtucket at like one o' clock and they're like, hey, you just got called up. You need to be in Boston and start today at 4.

What?

So I'm like, what? You know, like and just that whole experience, getting rushed to the ballpark, getting there with like maybe 40 minutes to go because there was so much traffic.

How far away? So Pawtucket is what, about an hour usually.

Sometimes it can get clogged up. So I didn't get to the park till like 3:20 for a 4:05. It was on Fox, it was on national TV facing Scherzer. Base hit versus that bat. Just like no way.

Wait, base hit versus a bat off Max Scherzer?

Yeah, it was awesome.

You don't even remember, did you? Was it like an out of body experience type deal? Just black out? Yeah.

I don't even know what happened.

I'd love to be that first base coach when he come back, you know, I remember. Well, I mean it's a lot different nerves or whatever but like my first like little acting gig, I don't, I don't even remember how it went, you know, I mean when like. Yeah, it's like, you know, you know, action. You know what I mean? Like I don't even remember. Luckily I hit the lines or whatever, but I don't even remember how it felt. But like when you came back to first base was that, you know, you give them knuckles or Whatever. And then you get the sign from third. That's just got to. You probably just were like, man, I'm doing. Your heart just must have been like a hummingbird right there.

Yeah, man, that was really good. That was awesome. Also getting a hit off of Rivera.

One.

You know, one for two forever.

Yeah. Five hundo.

Well, that was awesome, right? They're up four, three in the ninth. I come up, I think one out, maybe. Maybe no outs. Whatever. Base hit up the middle. I got them, too. Like, I hit it hard.

Nice.

First pitch, steal second. Next pitch, steal third. So now I'm at third with a 20 count. Bill hall gets a hit, so now we've blown the save. Then he steals second, he steals third. Mike Lowell comes up, gets a hit, unfortunately. So we gave him a blown save, and a lot like, we had him set up for a loss, we ended up losing that game. But, like, you know, New York, or.

Was it in Boston? Oh, it was in New York. Okay.

So I'm in New York playing against Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. These guys who I like came up. I was a Jersey kid, so I was a Yankee fan, and I'm playing against him, and now I'm spoiling a game. Right. So that's just like, you're on second base and you're saying hi to Jeter, like, talking to him. Yeah, it's like, nuts. It was nuts.

Who was catching right there for the Yanks?

I think Posada was.

I mean, clean it up, right? Four stolen bases in the ninth or whatever that was.

Well, you know, Mariano, he didn't hold runners too well. Yeah, but he never had to.

Yeah. Yeah.

Man.

Man, what a trip. What year was that?

2010.

2010. Okay. A year later is when I. Yeah. I don't know if you were there. 2011, I went and I saw the Yankees play at. Or the Red Sox play Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Connor Jackson was on the team. Lars Anderson. I know that's.

I was hurt. I was having surgery. I was in San Francisco when you were probably there.

Okay. Okay. Yeah. It would have been, like, August or September. Yeah, September, I believe.

September.

Yeah, man. That's pretty good. That's pretty cool that you could say you got Rivera. I mean, talk about a legend. So I do have a couple questions from the audience out there. They want to know what is your least favorite minor and major league city and most favorite minor and major league city and why?

So, least and most.

Yeah.

All right. That's a good one. I got to think about this for a minute.

Yeah.

All right. Shoot. All right, I got to give two of my favorites.

Okay.

Portland, Maine.

Okay.

And Iowa. Des Moines, Iowa.

Really? Yeah. Huh. Why?

All right. Portland, Maine, was aa, and I had a host family, and they're still like my. You know, I talk to them regularly. That was 2008 and nine. Or no, 2009 and 10. So, you know, you're looking like six years, and it was just such a cool house, and the town was really fun. Yeah. And so I love that seafood. Awesome. And Iowa, because Iowa always reminds me of second chances. And also, the city is like. It's awesome, man. It's like a city, but there's no traffic, so there's like. You have tall buildings, but there's really never any traffic. Cool. Farmer's market. Really good people. And I just really love the AAA staff there. So now my least favorites.

Yeah.

So one that I, like, lived at or one that I just passed through. What do you think?

I would say no, not that you lived at, but just all, like, your least favorite city to probably play. You know, visit. Not team that you were on or played in, but visit.

Shoot, man, I don't know. I didn't really feel. Savannah, Georgia, maybe.

Yeah. A little humid.

I was. It was humid. I was 18. Like, I didn't see, like, I actually hear Savannah, Georgia has sweet beach. And then, like, one of my buddies proposed to his girl there. Right. So at that time. But you're staying in, you know, you're in a ball. You're in, like, a minor league. You're in a bad hotel, you know, like, you're like. And it was hot. And, yeah, there wasn't a whole lot going on. So it just. That was probably it Nice.

And big league city is there. Baker said Cincinnati is probably his least favorite. What's your least favorite big league city to visit?

Man, I don't even know how I'm going to do that. Like, that one. I don't care. Like, whatever.

I know.

That's a good answer, man. I'm good. I don't know if I had to pick one. I don't know. No, I don't even have one.

I know. It's like, how do you really complain? I mean, you're kind of like, you know, you're in the middle of a. You know, best hotels, you know, best service in the show. It's just a different. Different deal. Huh? It's just I remember when I came to, when I would meet you, you and I first met at the Cubs clubhouse. It was unbelievable. Spread like a grass Fed, you know, braised beef, organic vegetables. Really well done. Clubhouse. What's his name? I forget the attendant there. I have his shoot. I have his card here, but I don't know. But yeah, you know, they treat you extremely well, the Cubs in particular. I visited a few teams in the spring and it's just next level, man, the energy there. I really see them doing something amazing this year.

Yeah, I hope so. And I want that ring.

Yeah.

Hell yeah, I got. That team is so cool. Those guys were so much fun. Yeah, I really. I dig it. Like, they got such a good vibe. Joe Madden's, he's incredible. Yeah, he's got. Yeah. So, favorite big league city. I mean, I like Boston and Chicago pretty, pretty much. You know, they're just. It's unbelievable places to play the game. That's the two places I've played. And like, I can't pick between those two.

Those are two pretty good cities to choose from, man. I. Yeah, that's. That's. That's cool. So let's see here. I want. Kevin from Connecticut wants to know is, is it the game that drives you or the dream? If that makes sense. Because those kind of go hand in hand. But anyway, do you have an answer to that?

Yeah, because that's a really awesome question and I kind of wanted to talk about that. I've had it on my mind this whole podcast. So thinking about the game, man, it's not. I mean, the baseball game, the dream, I think is more why I do it with this many setbacks and kind of, I don't know, I feel like baseball players are on an island. Right. Like, we have such a different lifestyle. It's a trip, you know, like, for me now I'm in Vail. Like, it's awesome here. I'm psyched, but I'm like, going down. But, like, I miss, you know, when you're this many times on the ground level, building up. I envy my friends in la. They're always doing something. They have the three of them, their main squeezes always around. You see these things when you get it taken away, that you're like, wow, that's sweet too. So, like, I'd say the dream, man, because. And you know what? As it gets better, as my knee gets better, this is what I was talking about earlier. It's like a phase, right? As I start to see and feel the glimpse of hope to play the game. Maybe not necessarily what the game brings me all the time, but between the actual game and the dream of the game, I think that's what drives me because there's times, man, like right now, like, I was kind of sometimes be down to just be with a group of friends in la. Like, that sounds awesome. Like, there's so many good things about different, like, people's lives. But again, as I get better, it's the, you know, there's different compartments of the game. So it's part of the game and it's not part of the game. And it's the dream.

Yeah, no, yeah, I get that because it's. It's the dream in the game. I thought that it was kind of hand in hand, but you intricately pointed out that there are different compartments of each of those that define certain ways that you live your life. And it could be different day to day that you're remembering certain things, whether that you did leading up to playing in the game or actual events that occurred in the game. I mean, there's so many different things that it's just as we daydream and we visualize certain things. And that's what I'm big on is visualization. I mean, do you use any of that? Do you incorporate any visualization into your pregame routine, into what you're doing right now, or do you just kind of. Do you notice?

No. Dude, I love watching baseball. I love it. That's like what my visual. That's like how I visualize. I just watch it. I love to watch the game. So that is like a really big thing. I think for me in this time, like, I feel like a part of how I did so well this year was just watching so much. I got to watch and really take it all in and, like, notice some things about my own game from watching somebody else. And I really do enjoy that. So. Yeah. Anyway, I think Kevin was his name, right? Yeah, Connecticut. Yeah. So it's like you always keep the good stuff in perspective. Even now, I might have said, like, oh, I'm stressed out, but I know what's ahead. And again, just a recognition, just recognizing, like, all right, I feel this way, but I can see, I think, is the way what I'm trying to say.

Yeah.

You know, like, it's a fight. It's a good fight. I'm a blessed. I have a blessed fight. And it's, you know, at some times I feel really down about it, but that's. I feel like that's only human.

That's life.

Good.

Yeah. I mean, it's not all sunshine and rainbows, you know, I mean, they're going to be peaks and valleys. It's all about just maintaining that, hopefully maintaining that consistency. But if some things happen, some bumps come along the way, it's about handling them and pinpointing them and doing your best to mitigate whatever comes through. I mean, as long as we're breathing in with as much as we've been through, we're going to be good, dude. We're good.

It's a fight. If you got some fight, it's good. You got it.

Yeah, I know you do. And it was very important to me to have you on here because just for many reasons, but I love the resilience that you've shown that I've seen in you face to face. Meeting, talking about your past and hearing about your past. I really didn't know when it was at the level of what it was as far as how many injuries that you've had in the past. But then it's like, damn, this dude's really. It's just like you have that mentality that it takes to just keep fighting to knock it down and ultimately achieving your goals, whatever you put your mind to. And that's going to be. There are going to be a lot of people out there that are going to, you know, hopefully respond to that. And that's what this, you know, as I said earlier, that's what this podcast is all about, is just showing. Showing, telling people different stories. It may, you know, make people may just, you know, have come into this, oh, Major League baseball player. I did kind of let. Let people know beforehand, listen. That he has a great story of resilience, but you just never know what people have been through. I had a country singer before that. Her name's Mickey Guyden. She had been grinding it out here for 10 years. Just wasn't happening in the entertainment industry. And she kept fighting, kept fighting. Got signed by Keith Urban's manager. Now she's blowing up. You know, she was on her way. She saw this dude and ultimately ended up leading her to getting signed in a mall out of nowhere. Long story short, what if she wasn't there at that mall? Like she was getting ready to move home and live with her parents. That was it. But I just love stories like that. People that just keep believing and just keep fighting for ultimately achieving their goals and inspiring others, which is a total win, win for your situation and so many others where you can inspire others to keep fighting to what they want to do and what their purpose is. And that's hard to put into words on how cool that is. I think I speak for a lot of People out there and a lot of. Of mutual friends of ours, it's just we. This is. I know you've probably been told this a lot, many times, but this is. For whatever reason, incredible things are right there. I've felt it. I've felt it before even. I just. I'm excited to be somewhat a part of your journey, you know what I mean? Like, just a friend of yours, man. I'm very grateful of that and really just excited for the future for you. And I can't wait to come out to Vail and get down in the mountains with you, man. I need to get out of this concrete jungle of Los Angeles and get some nature in me, you know, there is something about going outside and just seeing. Just smelling that fresh air. The air out there in Colorado has to be so much different than out here in LA night and day, right?

It's. Yeah, yeah. It's incredible, man. I'm super. I mean, I'm about to have surgery here, but I can't even, like. I think it's gonna be. It's. It's just a. You know, I just am really blessed to be here. I think it's gonna help my recovery. It's done. I mean, you're already at altitude, right? So that's already. You're at, like, almost 9,000ft here.

Yeah.

So that's good. Like, you get used to it. It comes in. It's just the nature, man.

It's.

It's an incredible place to be. A lot of space, and when you walk outside, you just are, like, just a little bit different. Like, you have to be because you're just looking around at this nature that I don't even know how. It's, like, amazing. It's amazing.

Yeah. But there's something about nature that is just healing and it's indescribable. But I don't know if you've been up to Northern California and Humboldt County. It's beautiful. A lot of redwoods. I pulled over like four or five times on the drive home. Just, you know, Wild Salmon Creek or whatever it was. Eel river, all these unbelievable streams. And just. I was just blown away, like, brought to tears because of what I saw. And just the beauty of nature's. Oh, man. I mean, my favorite movie's into the Wild, and I would put that on mute and I could watch that movie just on mute and just watch. And just the pictures and the scenes and the imagery that is in that movie is unbelievable. So I. Yeah, that. So I think that's gonna play. Play a little part for. For your. Your journey back to run to recovery as well. Just that nice, you know, that good feeling, you know, and then bringing in that gratitude and perspective, man, you're on your way to fucking greatness, dude. And I'm. Yeah, I'm happy for you, stoked for you, can't wait to go visit you. And I really appreciate you taking the time to. To share your story with my listeners, my. My followers. And, you know, this is all here just to benefit others to pursue their dreams and inspire others to hopefully, you know, maintain their own perspective and how good we all truly have it. And that's what this is all about, brother. So thanks again. Appreciate it.

Yeah, man, this is awesome. Really enjoyed it always, man.

And yeah, I will. We gotta catch up soon. And yeah, man, thanks again for your time. I appreciate you, Ryan. All right.