PACOIMA, Calif. – Juan Avena has been playing baseball since the age of three, and an early morning game at a local park means everything.
What You Need To Know
- Almost every week there are baseball games at local parks where players can get scouted
- Joey Molina a Mexican Baseball League scout sets them up in the area
- Juan Avena is a player who attends the games looking for his next shot in pro baseball
- Getting signed in the Mexican League keeps players hopes alive of making it to the major leagues
“My dream was to play in the big league like any other guy,” Avena said.
Growing up in Compton, his baseball dreams almost ended in 2009 when he became involved with the wrong crowd and nearly lost his life at the age of 16 when he was shot four times.
“They said I was supposed to die,” Avena explained. “I was not supposed to make it. If not that, I would have been paralyzed and baseball was for sure out of the question. I just keep telling myself ‘if God lets me walk again, I will play.’ I got to walk.”
Avena fought back, returning to the field and playing collegiate baseball. The New York Mets even drafted him.
Now, at age 28, he has not given up. That is why these professional scouting and recruiting games in the community parks are so important.
Joey Molina has been setting them up all over the area in Southern California.
“You can get a minor league contract in one game here,” said Molina.
L.A. Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela is a team owner in the Mexican Baseball League. Molina is a part of his team staff in Cancun. Scouts from Mexico and the major leagues come and check out the talent.
“This is that one game you guys get to pull it all off,” Molina added. “One game you guys can get signed.”
“It’s a blessing. I thank God every day for giving me the opportunity to play,” said Avena.
Despite everything he has been through, Avena can still one day see himself on the major league stage.
“Baseball is still the dream, and if the opportunity comes, I’ll take it,” he said.