Thursday, August 23, 2001
TCU draftees have high hopes for futures
by Colleen Casey
skiff staff

Former TCU pitcher Chad Durhamgraduated from TCU in 2000 with hopes to continue pursuing something that had been there since bfore he can remember. The fuel of Durham’s life is playing baseball.

After being drafted in the 25th round by the Houston Astros in the 2001 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, those hopes were materializing into a career in the minor leagues.

Durham said he’s proud of himself because of all the baseball he’s played in the semi-pros during the collegiate off-season which made him an attractive prospect. Durham is now in a professional jig in the New York-Penn Class-A Minor League on the Pittsfield Astrosin Pittsfield, MA, and he said he hopes to make his way all the way up through the professional leagues.

Erick Macha was one of three TCU baseball players taken in the 2001 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Macha, pitchers Chris Bradshaw and Chad Durham are currently on minor league rosters.

Since Durham has moved around the country playing in numerous semi-pro leagues and doesn’t mind orientating himself to different locales and teammates, he hasn’t had a hard time adjusting to the newness.

“Baseball is just like that,” he said. “The best part is getting to meet people who are like me and love the game like I do.”

Durham also said he didn’t have to make a big adjustment from Division I collegiate baseball to the minor leagues. He said it hasn’t been too much for him to handle.

“I have always been able to compete well with wooden bats (in the semi-pros),” Durham said. “It’s not like college though. Good pitchers have to throw some really good stuff because you have less a chance to overpower the professional hitters (in the minor leagues).”

Although Durham said he is scheduled for surgery on Friday in Houston, he said the injury is a minor and common injury to pitchers. The surgery, which forced him to leave his team early last season, will take three to four months for recovery. He plans to be back next spring for the full season.

When Durham returns, he hopes to continue to fare well throwing primarily his consistent pitch of choice, his fastball.
Durham graduated with a communications degree and also enjoys being a part-time musician. Despite his other interests the time, money and effort he has put into his baseball career fuel his desire to surround the rest of his life around the game. He said he will continue focusing on baseball until his arm won’t let him anymore.

“My goal is to play (in the majors) at Enron (Field in Houston),” Durham said. “But if that doesn’t work out I’ll just go get a real job.”

Another amateur draftee this year, former TCU pitcher Chris Bradshaw, was drafted in the 14th round to the Texas Rangers. He currently plays at the rookie-advanced level in the Appalachian League. So far, Bradshaw has a 4.25as a right-hand pitcher for the Pulaski Rangers in Pulaski, Virginia.

Unlike Durham, adjusting to professional baseball is something Bradshaw still faces each day he plays with the Rangers. He said he has found the differences to be great.

“We play everyday and if you’re late, you get fined. It’s my job now, I’m away from my home and I’m not making much money,” Bradshaw said.

Although he said the game hasn’t changed for him compared to college, he is missing the close-knit and supportive nature of his past teams.

“It’s a lot harder in the minor leagues because it’s not the team effort that I’m used to,” he said. “(It seems that) everyone wants to better themselves and are playing for themselves. There is less a concern if the team does well as a whole.”

As for the competition he is up against, Bradshaw said he’s only seen a few standout players and isn’t intimidated by his teammates. He said he can compete somewhat successfully with most of the hitters he faces.

“Making it through the minors are mentally tough, and if you do that you’ll be really successful,” he said. “I don’t feel I’ve found my life’s success yet, but I’m trying.”

Bradshaw said he will try to continue to keep himself motivated to make it through the minors. He said he will rely on the self-encouragement to reach his final goal of moving back home to Texas and playing in Arlington, which has been a dream since little league.

“I couldn’t ever have run away from this dream I have,” Bradshaw said. “I thought that I could make it, I still think I can, and that’s why I’m still (playing baseball).”

The dream that Bradshaw has is one very similar for Erick Macha, TCU’s third amateur draftee, who made the decision to leave college early and enter the draft after his junior year.

Assistant baseball coachDonald Watsonsaid he supports Macha’s decision because he knew he was chasing his passion.

“You have to believe it can happen for you, and if you do that, then it just might,” Watson said.

Macha currently plays in the Class-ANorthwest League on the Yakima Bearsin Yakima, Wash.

As for taking a break from college, Watson again supports Macha’s decision and feels he won’t have any problem going back to it. Before making the decision to enter the draft, Macha came to Watson and asked him if he thought he was ready for the minors.

“He’s very smart and he really made himself ready for the big-time. He’s not a finished product yet but he’s got an upside to him and I think he made the right decision for himself.” Watson said.

Alike all the draftees, Macha’s goal is to keep playing baseball, and that is what all three will continue with for as they can.

Colleen Casey
c.m.casey@student.tcu.edu

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