Ewing Enjoying His Time As Professional Baseball Player

A.J. Ewing SS / 2B / Springboro, OH / 2023

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - His dream is now a reality. A.J. Ewing is a professional baseball player.

“I knew the days would be long with baseball, but that’s what I want to do,” the 2023 Springboro High School graduate explained. “My passion has always been baseball.”

The 134th selection in the July MLB Draft has been with the Mets for a month now, playing five games to date in the Florida Complex League.

“The heat is something you have to get used to,” the fourth round compensatory pick related. “It’s the same game I’ve been playing, the talent level of everyone is just really good.”

The third-rated 2023 in Ohio has seen time at second base and center field thus far as a pro.

“ABs are never easy, but there are definitely no easy ones now,” the left-handed hitting Ewing said. “Everyone has great stuff, the sliders are something you really need to work on hitting.”

Ewing was taken by the Mets about where he expected heading into the draft.

“From talking with my advisor, I was expecting to go anywhere from the third to fifth rounds,” Ewing noted. “I had a good idea it would be early the second day.”

The thought of becoming a member of the Mets’ organization was also not out of the question.

“A lot of teams had shown interest and I knew the Mets were one of the top ones on me,” Ewing related. “I’m happy to be a Met.”

It was a memorable draft day according to Ewing.

“I was with close family,” Ewing noted. “Coaches were there and my best buddies. There was a lot of emotion pouring out when my name was called. It’s been my dream to be a Major League baseball player and this is the first step in the process.”

Signing to become a pro meant college at Alabama was no longer in his future.

“I knew I had a good option to fall back on, but my dream is to be a pro baseball player,” explained Ewing, who turned 19 on Aug. 10. “The opportunity was there and I knew I had to take it.

“The coaches there called me before day two and said good luck. They said we’re rooting for you no matter what. After I was taken I got a text and they said congrats.”

Life as a pro has been enjoyable.

“It’s baseball every single day,” Ewing related. “Get to the facility at 7:15, breakfast and then lift before the day starts. There’s individual defense, cage routine, a game and then recovery.”

The desire to make strides is a strong one according to the 6-0 175-pounder.

“The main thing with me is I need to put on some weight,” Ewing explained. “I’m not the biggest guy here. My defense also has to get better but my bat will always be my carry tool.”

Instruction will follow a summer in the Complex League, with an uncertain future the norm when it comes to professional baseball.

“I just try to be patient, get a good swing on the ball and not worry about the results,” Ewing concluded. “I’m just trying to make myself better as a baseball player and some day, hopefully, I’ll be in the Major Leagues.”