Lance Durham will make his professional baseball debut with the Auburn Doubledays. And yet, his name is already associated with a couple major leaguers.
Chet Susslin / The Citizen
Doubledays' first baseman Lance Durham throws during warm-ups at Falcon Park Wednesday. Lance's father, Leon, played 12 years in Major League Baseball.
Doubledays' first baseman Lance Durham throws during warm-ups at Falcon Park Wednesday. Lance's father, Leon, played 12 years in Major League Baseball.
The first baseman's father, Leon, played 10 seasons in Major League Baseball and is currently a hitting coach in the Detroit Tigers system.
And at the University of Cincinnati this season, Durham passed current Red Sox all-star Kevin Youkilis as the school's single-season hits leader (99).
“It feels good to even be mentioned in the same sentence as an MLB all-star,” Durham said. “It is really exciting, I didn't really pay attention to the record until the last couple of games, then the other guys started talking about it and I got nervous. But it was a blessing to be able to do that.”
Also at Cincinnati, Durham set the record for highest batting average in a season (.427). But even with his collegiate success, Durham doesn't expect anything to come easy at the pro level.
“It is a different animal out here so that stuff doesn't mean as much right now,” Durham said. “Everything in the past is just that. It's going to be a whole new ball game now. There is a lot of guys here that are either just as good or better than you here.”
As for being around Major League Baseball as a kid, the experiences sparked his interest in the sport. It helped him improve on the field and it showed him what it takes to play at the highest level.
“It was awesome growing up in the major league atmosphere,” Lance said. “I got to be in the clubhouse all the time, work out with and hit with professional ball players. Hanging out with them was definitely an advantage and it helped me to know what to expect.”
At an early age, he knew the advantages and the hardships of a major league baseball player. At age 10, Lance made the decision that baseball was his dream and from then on, he would pursue it.
“My dad always told me that I could do whatever I wanted, he never pushed me into baseball or football or anything,” Lance said. “When I decided that I was serious about it though, that was when he said that if I was seriously going to do this he could then push me and start helping me get there.”
His father's chance to really help his son came as Lance entered his junior year of college and decided to play at the University of Cincinnati, right in his hometown.
“My whole junior season has been the best time of my life,” Lance said. “I never felt as good going into a season as I did this one, and it was really because I had gotten to go home and had the chance to work with my dad there all fall and winter. He had a chance to really work me and was locked in with me the whole year. That was my best experience so far.”
Lance said his father, mother and his grandmother all shaped him into the man he is today.
“My mom always tells me to stay away from the girls,” Lance said. “That is her advice to me, but I definitely couldn't have gotten this far without my parents and my grandma. I was raised pretty well because of them.”
Hoping that his upbringing will keep him grounded away from home, Lance is looking forward to playing baseball in Auburn, a place that he has heard quite a bit about.
“I know that everyone says that Auburn is a great town for baseball,” Lance said. “You bring a good crowd here and people look forward to coming to the games, which makes us excited. A lot of us come from places where no one really comes out to see you play, so this will be a great experience for us all.”
Of course, Lance is also looking forward to working with his new manager, Dennis Holmberg, who he said has the perfect personality for him.
“Dennis is a great guy and everyone talks about what a good manager he is,” Lance said. “He gives 200 percent, not just 100, and he has a crazy personality that keeps everyone on their toes that you play against. What I am really looking forward to here though is the fans. I am living a dream right now and I really can't wait to come out here and play, hopefully hit some home runs, win some games and be a good teammate.”
CLICK HERE to meet the 2009 Doubledays.
And at the University of Cincinnati this season, Durham passed current Red Sox all-star Kevin Youkilis as the school's single-season hits leader (99).
“It feels good to even be mentioned in the same sentence as an MLB all-star,” Durham said. “It is really exciting, I didn't really pay attention to the record until the last couple of games, then the other guys started talking about it and I got nervous. But it was a blessing to be able to do that.”
Also at Cincinnati, Durham set the record for highest batting average in a season (.427). But even with his collegiate success, Durham doesn't expect anything to come easy at the pro level.
“It is a different animal out here so that stuff doesn't mean as much right now,” Durham said. “Everything in the past is just that. It's going to be a whole new ball game now. There is a lot of guys here that are either just as good or better than you here.”
As for being around Major League Baseball as a kid, the experiences sparked his interest in the sport. It helped him improve on the field and it showed him what it takes to play at the highest level.
“It was awesome growing up in the major league atmosphere,” Lance said. “I got to be in the clubhouse all the time, work out with and hit with professional ball players. Hanging out with them was definitely an advantage and it helped me to know what to expect.”
At an early age, he knew the advantages and the hardships of a major league baseball player. At age 10, Lance made the decision that baseball was his dream and from then on, he would pursue it.
“My dad always told me that I could do whatever I wanted, he never pushed me into baseball or football or anything,” Lance said. “When I decided that I was serious about it though, that was when he said that if I was seriously going to do this he could then push me and start helping me get there.”
His father's chance to really help his son came as Lance entered his junior year of college and decided to play at the University of Cincinnati, right in his hometown.
“My whole junior season has been the best time of my life,” Lance said. “I never felt as good going into a season as I did this one, and it was really because I had gotten to go home and had the chance to work with my dad there all fall and winter. He had a chance to really work me and was locked in with me the whole year. That was my best experience so far.”
Lance said his father, mother and his grandmother all shaped him into the man he is today.
“My mom always tells me to stay away from the girls,” Lance said. “That is her advice to me, but I definitely couldn't have gotten this far without my parents and my grandma. I was raised pretty well because of them.”
Hoping that his upbringing will keep him grounded away from home, Lance is looking forward to playing baseball in Auburn, a place that he has heard quite a bit about.
“I know that everyone says that Auburn is a great town for baseball,” Lance said. “You bring a good crowd here and people look forward to coming to the games, which makes us excited. A lot of us come from places where no one really comes out to see you play, so this will be a great experience for us all.”
Of course, Lance is also looking forward to working with his new manager, Dennis Holmberg, who he said has the perfect personality for him.
“Dennis is a great guy and everyone talks about what a good manager he is,” Lance said. “He gives 200 percent, not just 100, and he has a crazy personality that keeps everyone on their toes that you play against. What I am really looking forward to here though is the fans. I am living a dream right now and I really can't wait to come out here and play, hopefully hit some home runs, win some games and be a good teammate.”
CLICK HERE to meet the 2009 Doubledays.
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.