Capitol News

Michigan State University issued the following announcement on May 29

At the close of the 2019 Minor League Baseball season, Marty Bechina, a former Michigan State infielder, was ready to get back to work. Bechina was drafted in the 32nd round, 974th overall, by the Oakland Athletics during the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.

"Getting drafted for me, I just wanted to get the shot so I could ultimately get better and better, I didn't care where it was," said Bechina. "I had a good first start, learned a lot, and just wanted to pick up off of that."

Bechina is one of a number of MSU baseball alumni who are playing in the various levels of the minor league system, chasing their dreams of making the MLB. It's a tough road, requiring a lot of sacrifice and determination.

He knew he needed to improve his overall strength and size, ending last season at 195 pounds. He set an offseason goal to add 10 more. After hours in the gym and a carefully monitored diet, Bechina exceeded his goal, heading into the upcoming year at 208 pounds.

"Just being able to sit back and work on things, I feel like I got a lot better, and I was super ready going in (to spring training)," said Bechina. "I felt good, I was ready to prove myself."

Bechina, a native of Chicago, spent most of the off-season indoors, hitting in the batting cages, thanks to the Windy City's chilly temperatures. The A's spring training facility is in Mesa, Arizona, a measurably different climate than Chicago.

So getting to spring training in sunny Arizona was a treat.

"Oh, it was nice because it was warm," Bechina laughed. "The first couple rounds of batting practice, getting to see the ball fly and how much better it felt to me, it was really encouraging. Just running around and doing stuff that isn't on turf, you know because of the Midwest. I was ready to go, I felt good."

Anthony Misiewicz, former Spartan left-handed-pitcher, worked on his velocity this offseason. Now a prospect in the Seattle Mariners organization, he had just been invited to his first big league camp, where he would be working with the Major League squad throughout spring training.

"When the General Manager called me, I thought I was getting released," said Misiewicz. "I didn't have his number, and he left me a voicemail saying he needed to speak to me urgently and I honestly thought the worst. Then he ended up giving me the invite. It's probably the best news I have ever received in baseball."

Just over three miles to the west from where Bechina and the A's train in Mesa is Sloan Park, home of the Chicago Cubs spring training facilities. There, Dakota Mekkes, a former Spartan right-handed pitcher, was underway at his second big league camp.

"I was excited; it's awesome playing in front of that many fans. The Cubs fans are incredible, even in spring training we sell out almost every game," said Mekkes. "I was excited to get down there and just show the progress I had made in the offseason. Then everything kind of came to a screeching halt because of the delay."

Spring training was suspended for all Major League teams on March 13, due to the COVID-19 pandemic spreading in the United States.

"It was kind of a crushing blow to get so ready, this was the best spring training I've had so far. To be sent home, it kind of sucked, honestly," said Misiewicz. "It was more of a diminishing feeling in the clubhouse, because every day was music, good vibes, but when we knew we weren't going to be able to play or practice, it was a really gloomy feeling."

Mekkes also felt the disappointment of the abrupt end of spring training.

"It's an adjustment period for everybody," said Mekkes. "I've been playing baseball since I was four; I don't know the last time I haven't played baseball in the summer months. It's weird right now not really doing anything other than staying ready for when we do come back."

As the entire sports world is at a standstill, these Spartan alumni are staying mentally and physically ready for baseball's return.

Mekkes, along with three of his teammates, Ian Happ, Zach Short, and Nico Hoerner, are staying in Arizona and living in a house they've rented and dubbed, "The Compound." During the day, Mekkes and his teammates find entertainment by competing in tennis matches on their personal court, working out in the driveway with gear the Cubs organization has lent them, and interviewing fellow teammates on their new podcast, also called "The Compound."

"We just all stayed down here because the weather's better," said Mekkes. "If I stayed down here at least I'd have guys to workout with and people to throw with, so it just made life a little bit easier."

Directly following the suspension, Bechina remained in Arizona until his rent was up, then returned home to Chicago. Misciewicz came back to New Baltimore, Michigan, just a few days after the shutdown.

All three Spartans said their trainers, strength and position coaches, as well other members of their organizations have been reaching out almost daily. They have been receiving care packages with workout equipment, as well as specific exercise plans.

"The organization wants us to keep up with emails on different things we can do whether it's online training, they have these yoga sessions, certain lifts," Bechina said.

For Bechina, living out his dream of becoming a professional baseball player has been a journey filled with plenty of emotional moments. One in particular was his senior night at MSU, something his former teammates and current class of seniors did not get to experience this year.

"That was the first thing I thought of when I saw all that get canceled. I don't even know what the heck I'd be doing. I even think if this was my senior year what would have happened with me," said Bechina. "It's super hard to think about for those guys. I try and be optimistic so I'd try and look at it in a positive way, but that would be devastating especially for a lot of those guys I played with for all those years."

Bechina said he has reached out to his former teammates and offered words of encouragement, trying to keep their spirits up while empathizing with their situation.

"I talked to a few of them asking what was going on … I was trying to keep up with that," said Bechina. "I don't know what I would do without a Senior Night or final season, not knowing whether it was my last time, that's just not fair." 

Original source can be found here.

Source: Michigan State University