CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Tryout?
Dan was still floating when he jogged off the field after morning practice around 10 am, but he didn’t really know why. Sure, he thought the session with Harry and Croft had gone well, but he realized there was nothing that could come from it. After all, Dan had not played “real” ball in over a year, and had not played any form of college ball.
There were plenty of other prospects in the world, in the area even, who would vie for scouts’ attention, and Dan knew it. In the grand scheme of things, he was just a spec in the ocean of young baseball players, and Foster dropped by as a favor to Croft, his old friend.
Dan knew all this and recognized neither the Reds nor any other professional team were going to come calling any time soon. Yet, he felt more upbeat than he had in months, for sure, and probably better than he had in years, despite the gnawing fatigue that yipped just beyond the edges of his consciousness. For that one day, he intended to ride the wave of positivity and enjoy a lunch date with Gabbie and then get to HBM in time to turn in a full afternoon of work.
As he crossed the asphalt strip between the ball diamond and the school building on his way to the locker room, Dan spied someone coming at him from his right, closing the gap quickly.
“Yo, Dan!” the figure called, and Dan turned to find coach Croft running full bore toward him. He had no idea the lumbering older man could move so quickly.
“Coach,” Dan said. “Don’t hurt yourself there, buddy!”
Croft was huffing, and his face was red, but he brushed off Dan’s dig. “Ah, you’re just defensive because you know I could still take you — in anything. Anyway, what did you think of Harry Foster?”
“He reminded me a lot of another grumpy old bear I know,” Dan teased Then he dropped his smirk and said earnestly, “Seriously, though, Coach, that was incredible. I never thought I’d have the chance to workout with a guy with so much experience and insight into the Major Leagues. Thanks so much for setting it up for me … I’ll never forget the experience.”
Croft was nodding, trying to get his breathing under control as the two men walked at a slower pace. “Well, there’s no need to sound so gloomy about the whole thing, Dan. It’s not like you’re hanging up your spikes any time soon. I mean, the American Legion season is just around the corner, right? And weren’t you going to look into starting college in the fall?”
Dan thought about the conversations he and Croft had had that spring in the dugout during HBM games. The plan had been for Dan to go the high school to pick up his transcript and start applying to colleges. It was already late in the season, but he would probably have some luck with the more local schools, Croft had told him. Somehow, though, between work and Gabbie and Troy and trying to get back in shape, Dan hadn’t made it in to the South Pickens offices, and now they were closed for the summer.
Croft didn’t know about this.
Worse for Dan, and also unknown to Croft, was the downturn in Dan’s health. He had gone to see the endocrinologist as Parks had suggested, and the specialist found little more than what Parks did — Dan’s endocrine levels were going haywire, but the doctors did not know why. It seemed each day brought more fatigue and grogginess, and less motivation to do anything other than sleep. While the endocrinologist was treating Dan with hormone therapy, his condition was growing worse.
His hair growth had also slowed down again. He hadn’t shaved in four days, but his face was still smooth … tangible evidence of his decline.
So Dan hadn’t meant to sound morose or pessimistic, but the truth was, his future looked pretty uncertain, at least from his vantage point. Still, there was no reason to bring Croft down, especially when the man had given him such an incredible experience.
“Yeah, I guess that’s right, Coach,” Dan said. “Anyway, I really appreciate your setting it up for me. I owe you one.”
“You think you owe me now,” Croft said, “just wait ‘til you hear what I have to tell you next!”
Dan’s pulse quickened. What could possibly be better than working out for a real Major League scout? Maybe Croft was just messing with him, repaying the bad-mouthing Dan had dished out in jest earlier that day.
“Um, what’s that?” Dan asked, trying to steady his voice against the building excitement.
“How would you like to go to Cincinnati, Dan?”
Dan loved the Reds, but he already attended at least a handful of games per season. Another trip to Cincy would hardly be earth-shattering.
“Sure, that would be great. Are you taking the team down to see a game?”
“No, no,” Croft said. “I can’t go, but YOU are gonna have to find a way to get to Riverfront this weekend.”
Dan racked his brain trying to remember Cincinnati’s schedule. He thought the Reds would be traveling that weekend, but he couldn’t remember for sure. At any rate, Croft was confusing him.
“I guess I could ask my dad to take me,” Dan said. “But I don’t see why it’s so important. Do I need to be there for some reason?”
“Only if you don’t want to miss your tryout,” Croft said.
Dan stopped in his tracks, but Croft kept walking, looking straight at the ground.
After a few moments, Dan said, “Tryout! Did you say tryout? Come on, Coach, it’s not nice to tease me about something like that!”
Finally, Croft stopped and turned toward Dan, a warm grin spreading across his face.
“I wouldn’t kid you about a tryout, bud,” Croft said. “This is life-and-death stuff we’re talking about here, at least as far as baseball players are concerned.”
Dan shook his head as if trying to clear cobwebs from between his hears. “So what are you talking about, then? What tryout?”
“Oh, Danny Boy! Stop being so coy. Harry loved what he saw this morning, and what he’s heard from me over the last few months. He wants you to come to Cincinnati, to the stadium on Saturday evening. The Reds are having an open tryout for undrafted free agents, and he thinks you should be part of that group.”
Dan couldn’t believe it. “You’re joking!”
Croft held up his scout’s-honor fingers and said, “No, son, I’m not. Harry said you’re in the top 10% of hitters he’s looked at this spring, and not far behind in the field. There’s going to be a handful of Reds’ scouts at the open call plus some minor league coaches and instructors. Harry will even throw breakfast into the deal if you stay in the city overnight. And, rumor has it Howsam might walk through if he can pull himself away from his desk for a while.”
“Bob Howsam?” Dan marveled.
“That’s the one!” Croft said. “So, what do you say, Dan: wanna go to the Riverfront this weekend?”
Dan nodded vigorously, forgetting all his cares. “More than anything!”