It’s the first day of the spring exhibition schedule, what has lately been come to be called the Cactus League.

Players in Texas Rangers uniforms go up against players in Kansas City Royals uniforms. For many, it’s the only time they will ever get to wear a major league uniform. Every one of them has a dream of becoming the next Corey Seager. To hit the big home run in the big moment of the biggest game. Sadly, this is as far as most of them will get.

Only one out of ten minor leaguers ever makes it to the major leagues for even as much as an inning. Nine out of ten of these guys are living a dream they won’t realize. And one out of two hundred high school seniors is even drafted by a major league team.

Getting even this far, putting on a major league uniform in a major league spring training game, is rare. That next step, wearing it in an actual major league game, doesn’t seem so hard by comparison. 

So, here’s to the kids who take the field today, tomorrow, and all during this pre-season. Here’s to the dreams. Here’s to being that one out of two hundred to make it this far. Here’s to being that one out of ten to make the next step.

Because, whether their dream pays off or not, one thing is for sure: none of them ever dreamed about writing a baseball blog. 

*****

TODAY’S GAME:

Royals vs Rangers, 2:05