Not many have a narrative fairly like Daniel Nava’s.
The World Collection champion with the Boston Crimson Sox in 2013 had an uncommon and downright unbelievable story to get to the Majors.
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It began at Santa Clara College the place he walked on in hopes of creating the crew.
Sadly for Nava, he did not.
However he caught across the program for 2 years as an gear supervisor.
Any such function for a school athletics crew is a thankless and tiresome job.
Nava was so shut, but so far-off when it got here to really stepping on to the diamond.
He left for a junior faculty the place he grew to become a Junior School All-American, injecting new life into his large league dream.
In a full circle second, Santa Clara provided him a full-ride scholarship to return play for them and so Nava did.
He went undrafted however did not quit on his dream.
Nava signed with the Chico Outlaws, the place the assistant director of pro-scouting for the Boston Crimson Sox stumbled upon him.
Boston paid Chico precisely $1 for the rights to Nava.
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The Crimson Sox known as him up on June 12, 2010 and the remaining was historical past.
In his first Main League at bat, Nava hit a grand slam off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton, and launched the ball into the Crimson Sox bullpen.
The well-known voice of the Crimson Sox, broadcaster Joe Castiglione, spoke to Nava earlier than his debut and gave him a bit of recommendation.
He informed him to sq. up the primary pitch he sees and swing as arduous as he can as a result of “that is the one first pitch within the majors you will ever see.”
Nava did, and he went yard, in a fairytale-like second.
He grew to become solely the fourth participant in MLB historical past to hit a grand slam in his first profession at bat, and solely the second participant to ever do it on the primary pitch.
Thus, the legend of Nava grew.
He performed 5 seasons for the Crimson Sox, together with the 2013 World Collection crew.
Nava performed within the Majors from 2010-2017, and likewise performed for the Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Angels, Kansas Metropolis Royals and Philadelphia Phillies.
Nava’s story is in contrast to some other.
From rags to riches. From gear supervisor, to hitting bombs over the Inexperienced Monster.
From being price $1, to creating over $6 million in his profession.
Nava by no means wavered.