How former TCU players are making the most of a lost minor-league baseball season
Baseball returned to big-league ballparks and TV screens across the country last month. Seeing America’s pastime back in action was a welcome diversion amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Hundreds of minor-league parks remain empty, though, with aspiring big leaguers denied a chance to play this season. That’s a summertime staple for communities across the country.
Instead, those players are doing their best to stay in shape and stay ready in their hometowns. A handful of former TCU players find themselves meeting up multiple times a week to go through workouts and mimic a game-day routine at a baseball facility just down the road from campus in Fort Worth.
The facility is equipped with enough batting cages and a practice mound to get in the necessary work, but it’s a far cry from the spring training facilities pro teams have built in Florida and Arizona. And, hey, there’s no way to sugarcoat the disappointment.
“I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been jealous watching baseball on TV and seeing some highlights on Twitter,” said Evan Skoug, a former TCU catcher who is now with the Chicago White Sox organization.
“I’d rather be out there at the ballpark than sitting at home watching. But it’s given me a new appreciation and perspective on baseball. It can be gone like that, so the next time we do play some affiliated baseball, it’s going to be with a completely different outlook.”
Skoug talked as he worked out with a few other TCU products last week. The group included Brandon Finnegan of the Cincinnati Reds, Luken Baker of the St. Louis Cardinals, Jared Janczak of the Cleveland Indians and current TCU pitcher Charles King.
All were hopeful of putting together a memorable 2020 season in their development.
Skoug felt ready to take another step toward making the big leagues with a successful season. Janczak felt no arm pain throwing for the first time in years when he started spring training a few months ago. He was throwing his hardest, sitting in the 95 mph range, and was eager for his first full season of professional baseball in the Cleveland Indians organization.
The same can be said for Baker, fresh off his first full professional season with the Cardinals organization in which he hit double-digit home runs at the High A level in 2019. Finnegan believed he’d pitch his way back to the big leagues after spending last season in Double A.
“I was very confident that I was going to make it back this year, especially with the way I was throwing in spring training,” said Finnegan, who made history in 2014 by pitching in the College World Series with TCU and then in the World Series with the Kansas City Royals.
“I was very, very satisfied with how I was throwing the ball and the work I was putting in. But it is what it is. Things happen. I’m not the only person that’s not having a season this year.”
Finnegan and the rest of the players are now focused on making the most of a lost season. For the pitchers, they are keeping their arms as active as possible to simulate a season to ensure they’re ready for a heavy workload in 2021.
The batters are trying to see as much live pitching as possible.
“Obviously it’s not a season, but we’re trying to make it as close to regular baseball as we can,” Baker said.
Added Janczak: “Everybody is in this situation. It’s not just myself or baseball players. It’s bigger than that. There’s no need to complain. I’m trying to get better and train a little bit. But I’ve also been able to do things I normally wouldn’t be able to do during a season like getting a house with my fiance.”
Skoug, Baker and Janczak have also been teaching lessons to youth players in the area. Not only does it provide a secondary income, but it’s also another avenue to improve themselves as players.
What they are teaching the younger players are the same drills and techniques they are trying to perfect themselves.
As Skoug put it, “Teaching has been something great to do and maybe I’ll even continue to do it in future offseasons, which hopefully there are many more in front of me. But it’s been great for me to reinforce things I’m working on.”
TCU baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle is heartened to see his former players give back to the game in the midst of a disappointing season. Making the best of an unfortunate situation is something everyone can aspire to amid the pandemic, Schlossnagle said.
“If you really want to get better at a skill, try to teach it to someone else,” Schlossnagle said. “It exposes what you know and what you don’t know really fast. But all of those guys are passionate about young people and passionate about the game. I’m sure they’re doing a great job with it.”
Lessons with the Frogs
Those interested in scheduling individual lessons with Skoug, Janczak and Baker are encouraged to reach out via email to Skoug (evan.skoug5@gmail.com) or Janczak (jsjanczak@icloud.com).
