Baseball team meets with major leaguer to kick-start season

Alejandro Verdugo, Staff Writer

Yesterday, the Greeley West baseball team was scheduled to have a special guest talk to them. Former Colorado Rockies outfielder Ryan Spilborghs had asked to come to speak to the Spartan players. 

With the snow storming in yesterday and school cancelled, players were saddened by the fact that they couldn’t meet Spilborghs.  Instead, Spilborghs ended up going out of his way to still speak to the players on a Zoom meeting.

Spilborghs is currently a game analyst and commentator for the Colorado Rockies. He is known for hitting the first walk-off grand slam in Rockies history. He also won the National League Championship in 2007 with the Rockies.

Spilborghs had actually reached out to new baseball head coach Jim Jorgenson to speak to the players. “I definitely thought someone was messing when I first got the phone call,” Jorgenson said. 

Spilborghs spoke on different aspects and key details about what makes a team successful, something the Spartans are trying to tie down together before the start of the season. He also talked about how athletes can make their own opportunities by leaning on the support of others. 

Junior Ethan Guest thought it was a great experience listening to a professional player. “Not everyone has the opportunity to get insight from a player with that level of experience,.” said Guest.