As far back as they can remember, playing baseball has been a part of the lives of utility player Jaxon Byrd, left-handed pitcher Matthew O'Brien and catcher David Whittle. After their college baseball careers ended, the dream didn't come to a stop. It continued with the Long Beach Coast, a professional independent baseball team that competes in the Pioneer Baseball League.
Continuing to pursue their dream gave them purpose, while playing for the Coast gave them the freedom to play their own style of baseball.
The three discuss what it means to keep chasing professional baseball, what they took with them from playing in Riverside and how they hope to give back to the game when their playing careers eventually end.
The following discussion with the Raincross Gazette has been edited for length and clarity.
Anthony Solorzano, Raincross Gazette When your college career ended at UCR, what made you decide that you weren't ready to stop playing baseball?
Jaxon Byrd “I would just say the love I have for the game. I'm at a point where if I were to step away from this game, I would just simply miss it too much. I feel like this game has given a lot to me. It's up to me to see this thing out as long as I can and see how far I can go in this game.”
Matthew O’Brien “I love the game. I've been playing it since I was 3 years old, ever since I can remember. It's the first love that I've had and it's the only thing that I enjoy doing this much. I don't think I'm going to ever leave the game. I want my career to stay here, whether it's playing or coaching or scouting, whatever the deal is. I want to stay in the game as long as I can and play it at the highest level. Until I get told no.”
David Whittle “I've had a drive since I was a little kid, just wanting to keep playing as long and as far as I can, and this is just one of those games that I enjoy coming out to every single day, putting all my effort in and just trying to get better at it. It wasn't something that I could just easily give up, that's what kind of gave me that motivation to keep on going and to keep finding places to play.”
Solorzano What does playing for the Long Beach Coast give you that you weren't getting after college?
O’Brien “For me, it's purpose. I went home and after the season ended, I was hurt. I was confused as to what to do. I didn't have an exact idea of whether I'd even be able to play anymore. So then I rehabbed, then I was finally able to come back and then chase the dream and do exactly what I love to do, and a big piece of me was missing, and that's just playing the game that I love.”
Byrd “I was itching to get back playing. It was kind of similar where it was up in the air if I was going to continue playing or where that was going to be. It was awesome that we had the connection with Troy Percival, [Coast manager and former UCR head coach], to be brought on here at Long Beach.”
Whittle “The Coast just kind of gave me more freedom to just kind of act like myself and do what I felt like doing. I mean, in college, you're always having to try to impress somebody and here it's more or less of you just play to who you are.”
Solorzano When the road is over, what do you hope you can say you got out of baseball?
Byrd “It already has given me plenty of memories. I've had so many friends that I've met, so many connections that I've made with different people. I've been to so many different parts of the country. I've traveled. I've done everything you can because of this game and I'm beyond grateful for everything that's given me. I just hope I can give back to the game after I'm done and give the same effort that I gave while I was playing. I just want to give back to the game as long as possible and play it as long as possible.”
O’Brien “I'm always looking to give back to the game in any way. Being a positive influence on the youth, the next generation of ball players that's coming up. Trying to share any bit of knowledge that I've gained in my career that might help them in any way.”
Whittle “I'd definitely say that. The biggest thing is being able to say that I went out there and I gave it my all and I learned as much as I can and being able to go back home and give back to my community and the youth that's around there and get them going on the same path that I did and in hopes that one day they make it farther than I did.”
Solorzano You guys all played at Riverside. What has playing in that area given you that you can take for the rest of your career?
Whittle “I've grown up in Riverside, so I always know how it is to play down there and be with certain people and compete for a spot, and I think that's one aspect from Riverside that really helped me. It [shaped] me into the ball player of just going out and competing every single day and not having to worry about what other people think.”
Byrd “Riverside has been known as a place to give guys good opportunities and in a really competitive conference. It was really awesome to be able to compete against a lot of top talent guys in a Big West conference. That gave me some good experience that I needed to continue my career professionally.”
O’Brien “For me, it was the people. I love the coaching staff that we had over at Riverside. I love the opportunity to play in a new community. I was lucky enough to play at Hawaii-Hilo. It was another different community from where I grew up. Just going places that you're not from, and then trying to leave an impact as best as you can and leaving a positive impact, most importantly, in a new community is the most important thing, and then you have connections everywhere you go.”
Solorzano During this current season, was there a moment that kind of made you realize that the dream is worth chasing?
Byrd “I've had this goal for a long time that I've wanted to play after college and I kind of realized it a couple weeks into the season, actually. Percival came up to me and he was like, ‘You're going to love pro ball,’ and I didn't really think anything of it until it clicked. I was like, ‘Wait, you're coaching a professional baseball team, and then you just told me I'm going to love it.’ It all kind of clicked – this is exciting. That just makes you want to get better. More than you already did and just keep chasing the dream and keep making sure that you're playing up to expectations and getting as good as you can so that you can compete at the next level.”
O’Brien “I think it was that moment when I got the call from Percy that he was going to bring me on the team. After the season, you always have this feeling that you could have done better. But when I got that call, getting that opportunity to continue playing professionally, it was really encouraging to continue my career.”
Whittle “I always told myself that I was going to go as far as I could take it in baseball. Having the opportunity to come out here and take that next step forward is something that keeps me going and striving and one day I want to get there and get into that dream that I've always had.”
