The Lifelong Ambitions of A Minor League Baseball Player
Getting drafted is definitely a goal, especially when you’ve been playing as long as Ari Kaufman.
Ari Kaufman, number 13 on the Sussex County Miners, grew up in Wyckoff, New Jersey where he developed his passion for baseball.
Kaufman is the starting pitcher for the Miners and this is his first season with the team.
Over the course of his career, Kaufman has been exposed to different teams and has even met some of his favorite baseball players in the major league. He also has a wide range of experience as a pitcher.
“ I’ve played for little league, high school, college and last year even the New Jersey Jackals.”
Kaufman also discussed how his growing passion for baseball motivates him to always do better and practice what he does.
He has hope that he will be drafted but knows not all dreams come true.
“Playing baseball has exposed me to many different things and one of which is persistence. I have always practiced getting better at what I do. And I know that staying in shape and keeping a positive mind is one of those ways. But I also have to accept that my dream may not come true.”
Minor league players make around $1,000 a month, which is hard to make a living off of considering how many games there are in a season. In addition to playing baseball, he also has worked on the side during the offseason. He gives pitching lessons at a baseball facility and works in finance.
Getting onto the team during spring training last year was no easy feat for Kaufman. A majority of minor and major league players get drafted onto their teams.
“It was last year and I showed up to spring training and prior to I had practiced non-stop. Getting onto the team that way instead of being scouted showed my hard work paid off.”
Even though this is Kaufman’s first season with the team he says they are a family both on and off the field.
“We get along so well there are barely any disagreements in the team and we joke all the time in the locker room. There are 100 games in a season so loosing doesn’t affect us or how we play it just motivates if to do better the next time.”
From little league to minor league baseball Ari Kaufman has persisted through failures and disappointments, but he never gave up on his dreams to play baseball.
