Travel Baseball Teams in South Dakota

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MLB Players from South Dakota

There have been 37 major league baseball players to come from South Dakota. Baseball Almanac list four active players: Sean Doolittle, Mark Ellis, Jason Kubel, and Justin Duchscherer.

Sean Doolittle

Sean Doolittle was born in Rapid City in 1986. He spent some time in California as a small child, so his first taste of baseball was going to Oakland A’s games (http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090326&content_id=4072008&vkey=news_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak). He doesn't remember them well, but he knows they impacted him.

When he got a little older, he played in Babe Ruth League.

Doolittle pitched for Shawnee High School. His team won a state title in 2004.

Doolittle was both pitcher and first baseman for the University of Virginia. He also put in some work in the outfield (http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/highschool/050808summerstock.html).

In the summer of 2005, at age 18, he played for Team USA. He spent some time in Cape Cod League beforehand getting ready.

Doolittle was selected in the first round of the 2007 draft when he was 20. He played on the Stockton Ports, Midland Rockhounds, and Sacramento River Cats. During this time, he converted from first base to pitcher; a wrist injury was part of what prompted the switch (http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121121&content_id=40391104&vkey=news_oak&c_id=oak).

Doolittle made his major league debut in 2012. The kid who once watched the Oakland A’s is now an Oakland A!

His younger brother was drafted by the A’s, but has not made it up to the MLB.

Mark Ellis

Mark Ellis was born in 1977, also in Rapid City. As a teenager, he was part of the American Legion baseball program. In 1993, his team, the Rapid City Post 22, won a title; at this stage, he was a shortstop (http://www.thinkbluela.com/index.php/2013/04/23/mark-ellis-the-glue-that-holds-the-dodgers-together/). Ellis earned Player of the Year for the South Dakota American Legion two years running. Much later, he was honored as American Legion Graduate of the Year.

Ellis played two positions for the University of Florida: shortstop and third base (http://www.gatorzone.com/baseball/bios.php?year=2003&bio=ellis.html).

Ellis was a 9th round draft pick in 1999. His MLB debut came in 2002. During the time in between, he was traded from the Kansas City Royals to the Oakland A’s. He played for AAA Sacramento River while in the Oakland A’s farm system.

Jason Kubel

Jason Kubel was born in 1982 in Belle Fourche, but moved to California as a youth. He was on the baseball team at Highland High School, putting in an outstanding performance in center field (http://articles.latimes.com/2000/apr/14/sports/sp-19399)

Kubel was a 12 round draft pick in 2000, and was barely 18 when he signed with the Minnesota Twins. His minor league teams included the New Britain Rock Cats and Rochester Red Wings. He played in the 2004 All-Star Futures game.

His MLB debut came in 2004 when he was 22. He has been on several MLB teams.

Tomorrow's Ball Players

Youth sports can be important for many reasons. They help kids stay active and healthy. For many children, they are a way to make friends and have fun. At some levels, children may earn a trophy simply for participating.

For some children, this is enough. But others dream big. Those with talent and aspirations benefit from plenty of practice -- and from people who support their dream.

Sean Doolittle has said, "(My parents) have been unbelievable influence and have sacrificed so much. I could talk for hours about how much they have meant, driving me up and down the East Coast, paying for private lessons, everything. I might not have realized it at the time, but I’m so thankful (http://archive.njbaseballmag.com/RecruitsProspects/seanDoolittle.htm)"

Travel Baseball Teams in South Dakota

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