After circuitous path from Mexico to majors, life's a dream for Astros backup catcher César Salazar
Courtesy/Luis ValenzuelaCésar Salazar stood in the on-deck circle readying to make his MLB debut as a pinch hitter leading off the ninth inning. If the Astros’ rookie catcher was nervous, he did not show it.
He devoured books and CDs that his dad gave him about successful leaders and business people, mining whatever knowledge he could about how they achieved their dreams. He recruited Salazar to play for him on the Nogales Roadrunners, a travel team that played tournaments all over the United States. Valenzuela, who is originally from Sonora, Mexico, but lives in Tucson, Ariz., made it a point to give opportunities to Mexican kids to play in the U.S.
“I was stubborn at the beginning,” Salazar said. “I loved to play infield, but I swallowed my pride and said, ‘Let’s do it.’ And I think it worked out pretty good.” “High school, I didn't have confidence,” Salazar said. “I wouldn't speak to anybody. I was shy. But I knew I was doing the right thing. I knew I was on the right path, and baseball helped me with my confidence, helped me with building relationships.”Arizona Interscholastic Association ruled Salazar and another international transfer student ineligible to play
Despite his limited high school game experience, Salazar’s play with the Roadrunners was enough to earn him a scholarship offer from Arizona. Being a catcher had given him a new perspective on the sport, he said, and he’d made necessary adjustments to shorten his swing and improve his offensive profile.
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