Now let me tell ya, there’s this young feller named Cade Kurland, and let me tell you, he’s been makin’ waves, sure as shootin’. Born on February 17th, 2004, right down there in Tampa, Florida. He ain’t the biggest feller, but he’s solid, standin’ at 5 foot 11 inches tall and weighin’ in at 195 pounds. The boy’s got a right hand for battin’ and throwin’, and you know, that right there’s important in this game of baseball.
Now, Cade didn’t just start playin’ for the big leagues, no sir. He come up from humble beginnings at Berkeley Preparatory School, right in Tampa. Played all them years, and by the time he was done with high school, he was the all-time leader in hits, runs, and RBIs at that school. A real prodigy, if you ask me. Had 133 hits, 126 runs, and a good ol’ 106 RBIs. That’s somethin’ to be proud of, I tell ya.
When he made his way to college, he went off to play for the Florida Gators, and let me tell ya, he didn’t waste no time. Right off the bat, Cade was makin’ noise, and not just any kind of noise, but good, solid noise. His freshman year, he was named a Freshman All-American by Baseball America. That’s some fancy recognition right there, I tell ya. And while he was out there playin’ second base, he sure made an impact. Fieldin’ the ball at a .958 clip across 213 chances, that’s mighty impressive, especially for a feller just startin’ out in the big leagues.
And if that weren’t enough, the boy went on to turn 22 double plays, and he only committed nine errors. Now, I don’t know much about that fancy baseball talk, but I do know that when you’re playin’ second base, you gotta be quick on your feet, and Cade sure was. Ain’t no doubt about that.
But let’s talk about the real excitement – the games. He ain’t just out there collectin’ stats. No, sir, he’s out there win’n games for his team. One of the most talked-about moments was in the College World Series, when he hit a clutch infield single in the 9th inning to give Florida a 3-2 lead over TCU. It mighta been a tough game, and he mighta been havin’ a hard time at the plate earlier on, but when it mattered most, Cade came through, just like you’d expect a Gator to do.
And don’t forget the time he hit a big ol’ grand slam against them Georgia Bulldogs. That’s the kind of stuff that gets the crowd goin’, and you can bet they were hollerin’ for him. The Gators was already up by a few, but Cade’s grand slam sent them boys a-pullin’ away in a way that left Georgia wonderin’ what hit ‘em. That right there was a moment to remember, for sure.
Let me tell ya somethin’ else – Cade ain’t just about them big moments, either. He’s consistent. He’s out there doin’ his job every day, whether it’s at second base or at bat. Over the course of his first season, he proved he could stand up to the pressure, and he ain’t afraid to show the world just what he’s made of. Ain’t no slouch, that one.
Now, I reckon you might be wonderin’, what makes this boy so special? Well, it ain’t just his bat or his glove. It’s his grit. You can see it in the way he plays – the way he don’t back down, the way he digs in when it’s tough. I’ve seen players with more talent, but not all of ‘em have the heart Cade’s got. And when you’ve got that kind of fire inside you, it don’t matter how old you are, or where you come from, you’re bound to make it far.
So, if you’re a fan of baseball, or just want to see what a hard workin’, determined young man can do, keep your eyes on Cade Kurland. I’ve got a feelin’ we’re gonna be hearin’ a lot more from him in the years to come. And if I know anything about this game, it’s that folks like Cade, they don’t just play to win – they play to leave a mark. And mark my words, this feller’s gonna do just that.
Tags: [Cade Kurland, Florida Gators, Baseball, Freshman All-American, College World Series, Second Baseman, Grand Slam, Tampa]
