The old saying is everything happens for a reason. Junior shortstop Alex Bregman certainly believes so. The Albuquerque, N.M., native was given a chance that most high school players would not pass up. After a dynamic high school career, the 17 year-old was drafted in the 29th round by the Boston Red Sox.
“I had the opportunity to enter the draft, but I decided to attend school at LSU,” Bregman said. “I broke my finger my senior year of high school and only got to play four games. I didn’t really get an opportunity to be seen by the professional league guys, but that was the best thing that happened to me in my life.”
While being recruited by colleges from all over the country, Bregman was persuaded by his hitting coach, former LSU first baseman Jason Columbus, to take an unofficial visit to Baton Rouge.
“He (Columbus) told me that this is the best place to play college baseball and I needed to check it out,” Bregman said. “I just fell in love with the fans, the coaches and the players on the team. I fell in love with the program and admired the effort that the Baton Rouge community put into LSU.
“Coming here was awesome and really worth it,” Bregman continued. “I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world. Now being here, I would have never signed professionally. I would have come to play at LSU no matter what.”
Throughout his career as a Tiger, Bregman has collected multiple honors including being a part of the 2013 and 2014 USA Collegiate National Team, 2014 SEC All-Tournament Team, 2013 Freshman of the Year, 2013 National Shortstop of the Year and 2013 First-Team All-American. Along with all the accolades, the prominent shortstop has made life-long relationships with teammates and coaches.
One relationship that Bregman has and will cherish after his playing days at LSU is with seventh grader George Wood from Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School.
At a young age, Wood was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, a condition that requires him to use a wheelchair. Despite his physical disabilities, Wood shares with Bregman a sincere love for the game of baseball.
“George is an awesome kid,” Bregman said. “He comes to almost all the games. He sits right there in the front row and tells me good luck every time before I go up to hit.”
Just like Wood cheers on his favorite collegiate shortstop at Alex Box Stadium, Bregman goes out to the Cypress Mounds baseball complex in Baton Rouge to support his shortstop who participates in the Miracle League and plays for the A’s.
“He asked me to come out and watch him play a game at the Miracle League,” Bregman said. “I went out there and fell in love with the kid. It brings me so much joy to watch him smile on the baseball field when he gets a hit or makes a big play.”
The Miracle League gives children with mental or physical disabilities the opportunity to play baseball as part of a team in an organized league. At Cypress Mounds, the children play on a cushioned synthetic turf field that allows them to achieve their dreams and play the game they love.
“Alex is a real nice guy and a good shortstop, too,” Wood said with a smile on his face. “My dad and I started coming to the games three years ago when Alex was a freshman. He’s the main reason I come to watch. He inspires me to play shortstop for my team.”
Bregman and Wood have grown their friendship over these past three years as they support one another on and off the field. The two keep in touch through text messaging, and after games at Alex Box, Wood joins Bregman and the rest of the team on the field just as if he a member of the team.
All of the awards, victories, statistics and Omaha are certainly important to Bregman, but the relationships that he has made during his time at LSU are priceless. Getting to know George and his family has motivated Bregman in unimaginable ways.
“He’s an inspiration to me because of how much he loves the game of baseball,” Bregman said. “He has so much fun playing the game, and it allows me to have fun playing as well.”