Ryan Goleski’s dream has always been to be a professional baseball player, and after many years of hard work his dream is coming true.
Goleski, a 2000 graduate of Lake Orion High School, was drafted in 2003 by the Cleveland Indians Baseball Organization. He played last June through September for a minor league team, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the NY/Penn League.
Goleski departs for spring training with the Indians in Winter Haven, Florida on Feb. 26. He said he remembers first taking an interest in baseball when he was five years old.
‘I remember messing around with my dad,? he said. ‘I knew I wanted to be a ball player, but it’s a long shot. My dad said he always knew I would become one.?
Goleski, who had a very successful high school career before going on to play baseball for Eastern Michigan University on a full ride scholarship, said he wasn’t always the best player growing up, but he was always excited to play.
‘In my teen years, that’s when I started to work towards being a pro player,? he said. ‘After my junior year (at LOHS), I was talked to by pro teams.?
Goleski decided to give college baseball a shot and played for Eastern for three years, breaking numerous records during his stay.
‘I did very well there,? he said. ‘I was First Team All-American, and Second Team All-American my sophomore year. I was ranked as one of the top 100 players in the nation while I was in college.?
Goleski majored in business administration, and found his baseball career in jeopardy after he broke his hand in an incident on campus.
‘I got off to a slow start my junior year,? he said. ‘Then one of my buddies and I were jumped on campus…one of the guys tried to kill my friend. I ended up breaking my hand.?
Goleski said the injury only set him back three weeks, although realistically he should not have been on the baseball diamond at all that season.
‘It was rough coming back,? he said. ‘But I broke the MAC career record for homeruns, and we won our conference tournament title, and went to play for the NCAA National Regional Title in Lincoln, Nebraska.?
It was at the University of Nebraska in that game that Goleski first got a taste of playing in front of a stadium crowd.
‘We played in front of 7,500 people, and that’s probably one of the coolest things I did in college,? he said.
Goleski chose not to return to Eastern for a fourth year after the Cleveland Indians Organization came calling. He reported to Niles, Ohio to play for the Scrappers for four months.
‘I was pretty ready to go back (to Eastern),? he said. ‘But I had to weigh what more I had to accomplish in college, athletically.?
Goleski was eighth in the league in batting average and second for homeruns while he played for the Scrappers. Despite his success, Goleski said he still had his eye on playing Major League ball.
‘I expected to be drafted out of high school,? he said. ‘My family is really excited. Going into the draft, everyone had higher expectations, but it came down to money again.
‘But I’m happy with my decision. The Indians are a great organization,? said Goleski.
Besides going to the Major League, Goleski will also have another exciting event coming up in 2004. He and fiance Rachel Clouse, a 2002 LOHS graduate, are tentatively planning a Winter 2004 wedding.
‘We’ve been together five years,? Goleski said. ‘She loves baseball, she played softball in high school. She got an academic scholarship (to Oakland University).?
Clouse is currently pursuing a Nursing degree, and Goleski said she is very excited for him to join the Cleveland Indians.
Goleski said he isn’t nervous about joining the Indians, but believes keeping a positive attitude will be the hardest part.
‘And having confidence in yourself, telling yourself you belong here,? he said. ‘It’s very overwhelming, but it’s something I dreamed about my whole life.?
Goleski, who has been home in Lake Orion for the past four months, said although he has been a Detroit Tigers fan since he was little, he can’t say he has a favorite team.
‘I’m a fan of baseball in general,? he added. ‘It’s a dream come true.?
He looks up to professional players Mark McGuire and Barry Bonds for inspiration.
‘There are guys that have been out there, that have been extremely successful,? he said. ‘I’m impressed with how they’ve continued to be successful, with all the pressure. It has to be extremely mentally draining for them.?
Goleski knows how hard it is to want to break a record but to concentrate on the game at the same time.
‘It’s tough because you want to do something so bad, but you have to let things play out,? he said.