Every Voice Matters, and other reasons why I’ve joined Medium

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter. — Martin Luther King Jr.

Getting drafted by the Blue Jays right out of High School is a part of my baseball journey, and life, I will never forget.

Most people, when they hear my name, believe that’s really all there is to me, my “big” decision to turn down millions, “how dumb!”

There’s much more to me, now, than that…there’s much more to me, today, than just baseball! But for a while I believed that’s all I was too.

It was a confusing time, going through the recruiting process. I was extremely excited and equally nervous, and the process started so early. I remember being at dinner once, after I performed surprisingly well at a showcase tournament, with my dad, and his cellphone rang endlessly with offers from schools…as a sophomore.

Of course I was (and am) grateful for all the opportunities, but it’s a lot for a 15 year-old to process the gravity of those decisions. How does one really make good choices at that age anyways? The male brain can barely recognize its mortality before his mid-twenties. Choosing my future at that age seemed crazy (and to think that every High Schooler feels that way today is a bit crazy in itself).

That’s why when the draft happened my Senior year, I became a bit paralyzed. On one hand, it seemed absolutely ridiculous not to accept the offer. I was going to get to live out my dream earlier than I had hoped for. Everyone thought I would sign…and I sure thought so too.

But then I remembered what it felt like as the 15 year-old…

Being incredibly excited and endlessly nervous, not really sure of the right path ahead. And while I was now three years older, I still didn’t know the answers to any of these questions.

There was so much still to learn about myself, that I started doubting now was the right time. I started leaning towards going to college, furthering my education, development on the field and growing as a person. Of course I felt a bit crazy for turning the offer down, but to this day I look at that decision as one of the smartest I ever could have made.

I’m thankful for the Blue Jays, don’t get me wrong! But spending those 3 years of my life at Vanderbilt were every bit of a emotional roller coaster ride that God intended for me to go on, whereas otherwise I may have not been able to experience success and failure and everything else under such a spotlight!

And to now be able to be apart of the San Francisco Giants is something beyond my imagination.

My choice to attend school was one of the few moments of wisdom I had in my early years of adulthood. Understanding that personal development outweighed the development of my career is something I knew mattered, I probably just couldn’t articulate it well enough at the time.

It also set a foundation for one of the most important lessons I’ve learned since becoming a professional Athlete. We live, in many people’s eyes, such an extravagant and disconnected life. While some of that may be true — because yes, we are associated with Major League teams and are often seen/ spoken of in circles that “famous” people are usually mentioned in — but most of it isn’t. Most of this life is difficult primarily because of that misconception. We are normal people, apart of an abnormal workplace striving to make people happy while enslaving our own happiness.

Like you — like anyone — I’m just a human following my path.

College was one of the hardest periods I’ve experienced in life so far. I witnessed, participated in and felt things I’d never thought possible…dark things. I thought being a successful athlete could make me immune to these necessary human challenges.

I was obviously wrong.

I make this point because the way our culture and society values sports and, in my case, the ability to throw a ball hard is a bit…imbalanced. While I’m so thankful for the life and opportunity that professional sports has brought me and I love what I do, I don’t think it makes me — or my voice — more important than any other human being on the planet. At all.

So…where does Medium fit into all of this?

One of my jobs as a professional athlete often includes utilizing my social media channels as both a personal and professional platform to promote certain messages, products or causes. And honestly, I love it. It’s fun and I meet incredible partners, fans and community allies along the way.

However, I’ve worked tirelessly with my team to make sure that who I work with and what I “promote” aligns deeply with my purpose of leaving the world a better place than I started in. More than anything, my responsibility — in the position professional athletics has put me in — is to care for my community, planet and country.

While I love social media for the opportunity of conversation and business, the platform does value certain voices over others — people with more likes, more shares, more ads, more pretty, more “wit”…it too is an imbalanced space for connection.

This is why I’ve joined Medium.

Although it’s still littered with ❤️s, shares & comments, I believe it’s built to equalize the playing field. Everyone who joins has an opportunity to succeed without forking over a dime (privilege) or battling constantly changing algorithms (which are never in anyone’s favor).

I believe every person matters, and therefore, so does every voice.

I know that here, my success and opportunity for connection is only as great as the value of what I create and bring to the incredible community here.

I’ll still be using my social media to explore opportunities to partner with brands and make a real difference, I’m simply expanding the accesses of my communication and connection opportunities, with real people and real stories.

But this isn’t my only purpose in coming here…

There are a few other reason’s I’ve joined Medium:

• It’s an incredible and beautiful place to share my thoughts (which are constant these days), and read the thoughts of others
• It’s a way to connect with people who aren’t just interested in my sports career, because life is so much more than that
• It’s a platform to authentically share-in & discuss one of my biggest passions and hobbies: rap music
• Writing is an incredible form of reflection, and Medium incentives me to write more
• And then there is All of You medium-ers. An experience is only as great as the community involved. I’ve heard incredible things about the people publishing here and I can’t wait to explore and join in the fray
• Knowledge is so important to have, and even more important to share. While most of my posts won’t be all about sports or companies I’m working with, I will make recommendations on the tools for success I can’t live without, and provide resources so you can face life’ s challenges a bit easier. Plus, some opportunities to win and access some pretty cool stuff. I can’t have all the fun alone…sharing is caring, no?

Here’s what I’ll (primarily) be writing about:

True connection only comes from trust. Where does trust come from? Vulnerability.

I’ve noticed that athletes tend to fear the facade of imperfection, and sometimes for good reasons. Heck, our livelihood is technically dependent on it.

But here’s the reality…me and my life are nowhere near perfect. In fact, we’re less perfect than we were before all this pro baseball stuff started. And that’s okay. I actually welcome it. Why?

Because it’s only through faith and our ability to overcome the human challenge that we find meaning. This requires what I call being, “Totally Centered.”

Your Center is your rock, your foundation. When the craziness of life (which you can never control) seems to keep you off your feet, your center acts as a grounding system. It allows you to relinquish control of your circumstances in return for peace, happiness and fulfillment.

Sounds like a pretty good deal, doesn’t it?

That’s because it’s probably the best deal in the world, and I’d like to help people find it.

Realistically, I can’t tell you what the right or wrong thing to do is. What I can do, though, is share my experiences with you (the good and lots of the bad) so that you don’t feel alone in this crazy journey of life — and neither do I. And hopefully so you can see some of your own story in mine, and learn a thing or two.

I just have one request in return:

Share your story with me too. I only get one perspective in this life, and while God helps me see things through another’s eyes, there’s no better way to learn than through hearing the words “from the horse’s mouth,” if you will.

As me and my friends — yes, we’ll have guest posts! — write here, we encourage you to comment, respond, reflect, challenge, ask questions…whatever way feels best for you to engage.

Life on the road as a baseball player can feel separated, and my hope is to build another community to stay connected to, no matter where I am.

So…follow us here on Finding Center if anything you read sounds like something worth adding to your week, day, or even a few minutes. If not, we wish you the absolute best on your path to a full and prosperous life.

We weren’t meant to do any of this alone. We’re better together.

To me, life is all about more than me. I’m hoping I can live even more of that kind of life here, as I start this journey on Medium.

Won’t you come along, friend?