Kent State of Mind: Benny Roebuck - Defining Moments
4/9/2024 10:02:00 AM | Baseball
I remember the day like it was yesterday.
I was in fourth grade, and I just found out that Matt Wisler got drafted.
If you don't know who Matt is, he played high school baseball for my dad and was in the Majors for the Atlanta Braves.
It was in that moment that I made up my mind — I wanted to play baseball for as long as I could.
I wanted to be just like Matt and play on the highest level
And I wanted to do it for as long as possible.
Starting young
I started playing baseball around the age of five or six.
My dad played professionally, and he was my coach for my travel teams.
I have so many memories of us playing together in the front yard and on those travel teams.
What I remember most, though, is the team he coached.
He was a high school coach, and those teams had some fantastic players.
They were all great athletes, but it was something else that stood out.
Their work ethic.
They were some of the hardest-working players I'd ever seen.
And I was just a kid.
But seeing how those high school kids worked and went about their business changed everything for me.
It showed me that if you want to make it in this sport, you have to put in the work.
No excuses.
You have to work when no one is watching.
And that's what I did.
My journey to Kent State
When I was in eighth grade, I was throwing a bullpen with Matt’s dad, and that’s when things really started to shift for me.
He taught me so much in that bullpen.
He told me how important it is to work and put in the time.
And from that moment on, I was all-in.
I spent the entire winter lifting and getting stronger.
I was going to do whatever it took to be the best.
And I kept that same mentality when I went to college.
I had a few schools interested in me, but after talking to Coach Birkbeck, I knew Kent State was the place for me.
He came and watched me at a game in high school, and when I visited Kent State, I fell in love with the whole place.
It just felt right.
I can't explain it, but it just felt like I belonged there.
It was one of those gut feelings, you know?
And I'm so glad I trusted it because Kent State has been everything I hoped for and more, even when things were hard.
The injury
And speaking of hard, my journey has not been easy.
After my freshman year, I started feeling some pain in my elbow.
I didn't think much of it at first. I tried to play through it, but it kept getting worse.
And then, one day, something felt off.
I didn't think too much of it at first, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
So, I went to the doctor, and that's when I got the news.
My UCL was completely ripped off the bone.
I was going to need Tommy John surgery.
I was devastated.
Baseball was all I ever wanted, and now I couldn't play for an entire year.
But looking back on it now, I wouldn't change a thing.
This injury has taught me so much about myself.
It's taught me how to be patient and how to appreciate the game even more.
And it's made me realize how blessed I am to have such amazing teammates.
It's been hard, not being able to play, but my teammates have been there for me every step of the way.
They've pushed me in the weight room and in rehab, and they've been my biggest cheerleaders.
I wouldn't be where I am today without them.
Not everyone can say they love the group of guys on their team.
But, I can.
And that’s one of the many things that makes Kent State so special to me.
Looking ahead
I spent a lot of time during rehab working on my mobility.
It wasn't easy, but every lunge, every stretch, every rep in the weight room was a chance to come back stronger.
And I became stronger.
My injury wasn't the end of the story; it was a new chapter.
It taught me resilience, mental toughness, and the importance of a supportive team.
Now, stepping back on the field, I see the game with fresh eyes.
Every pitch, every catch, every win is a gift.
The journey wasn't what I expected, but it brought me to exactly where I'm supposed to be – surrounded by teammates who are like family, with a newfound appreciation for the sport I love.
And that's what this game is all about.
It's about pushing yourself past your limits, learning from setbacks, and celebrating the victories, big and small.
It's about the camaraderie, the dedication, and the unwavering belief that anything is possible with hard work.
That's the lesson I learned from Matt Wisler, my dad's team, and most importantly, from myself.
This isn't just about baseball; it's about life.
And I'm ready to keep getting one percent better every day, on the field and off.
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