By Brant Perry

Of The Gleaner 

After discovering their love for a sport, many successful athletes develop a drive for a dream. The most common dream amongst those athletes is to make it to the “big leagues.”

However, this dream is an unlikely reality for many. According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)- Estimated Probability of Competing in Athletics Beyond the High School Interscholastic Level, “Fewer than 2 percent of NCAA student-athletes go on to be professional athletes. In reality, most student-athletes depend on academics to prepare them for life after college.” 

This number is dauntingly low; baseball player Tommy Specht, ‘22, is part of an even smaller percentage. Specht is part of the 0.5 percent of high school baseball players who make it pro after high school.

To be a part of this small percentage of athletes takes incomprehensible amounts of time and dedication. One of the sacrifices Specht recently made to pursue his dream of playing in the Major Leagues was graduating from high school a semester early. 

Specht now spends his days training from sunrise to sunset. He follows a strict schedule to best utilize his time.

“I wake up at the same time every morning — 8 a.m. I prioritize getting eight hours of sleep to allow my body to recover,” begins Specht. “From there I eat a big breakfast to try to continue to gain weight. After breakfast, I get ready for my morning workout. This workout typically takes around two hours; I eat lunch afterward. 

“During lunch, I take some time to recover and get my body ready for my second workout. After my second workout, I come back home and have an evening meeting with my agent.” 

Specht spends the rest of his night recovering by stretching, rolling out, and using a red recovery light. Overall, he spends about 4.5 hours every day working and recovering for baseball. 

 Specht models his dedication after successful people that he respects. These idols motivate him to reach the next level.

“Jack Harlow has definitely been the biggest idol for me,” said Specht. “I know it took a lot for him to get to where he is today. Listening to his music gets me ready for every workout and game. I think my next biggest idol would be Yao Ming. Just like Jack Harlow, Yoa Ming had a crazy journey making it to the top.”

These idols have inspired Specht to make it to the major leagues. He hopes to inspire others in that way.

Said Specht, “Work hard and life is amazing; it is what it should be.” 

Specht has been working hard to achieve his dreams and continues to inspire the Wahlert community. The Major League draft takes place Sunday, July 17th, to Tuesday, July 19th, where Specht is projected to be drafted in the first or second round.