EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – Once an Otter, always an Otter – this is something Grif Hughes, Braden Scott, and Nick McAuliffe have experienced first hand, or should I say first pitch.
“So it’s been the part of four seasons down in Evansville,” said Braden Scott, Atlanta Brave affiliate pitcher.
“Parts of I would say like two seasons,” said Grif Hughes, Colorado Rockies affiliate pitcher.
“I played Evansville last year, all the whole season, and then I got picked up by the Minnesota Twins in April,” said Nick McAuliffe, Minnesota Twins affiliate pitcher.
Each pitcher playing for different amounts of time, but still taking so much from those around them.
“My first year really taught me how to be a professional, meaning that like the guys that were in the locker room really taught me how to go about my business, what to and not to worry about, and things on in that nature,” said Hughes. “Because this is this this life doesn’t come with a manual.”
“They’ve, I mean, they’ve been a big help,” said Scott. “Just kind of me getting my confidence as a as a pitcher in professional baseball, and then obviously you know giving me a way to continue to play the game to to try to go and get picked up.”
Evansville wasn’t just a hotspot for pushing them forward, it’s a place of support and comradery…
“The whole coaching staff in Evansville is is prime. It is like really good, really well,” said McAuliffe. “They were traditional, everything they do, I think it guys the most, or get guys to fulfill the dreams of playing organizational baseball.”
One thing that has always been consistent surround these athletes is the people in the stands…
Whether they’re there for theme nights, or the love of the game, it never goes unnoticed…
“You know whether we were winning or losing or whatever it was, you know, anytime that anybody had success, the the people of Evansville and that organization made sure that that they would, you know, give you give you your flowers a little bit, and that was always a really cool thing,” said Scott.
“It’s like you know they’re they’re coming to watch you, and you know Evansville’s such,” said Hughes. “It feels bigger than it actually is when you’re there. Everybody kind of knows everybody, and and so one of the bigger things I noticed is just like the community constantly pours into us: win, lose, draw. It was like the families that are there are there because they they want to come watch us play and they want to come support us and you know I was really thankful for that in my time there because you don’t you don’t realize how much of a family it feel it really truly feels like a family while you’re there and then when you you know go other places it’s not always like that.”
It all goes back to where it starts, once an Otter, always an Otter, and these three know a thing or two about that.
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