1999 Alaska Goldpanners
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Team leader: Freshman third baseman Greg Sain is leading the Torero offense in at bats with 92 and with a .356 batting average Freshman third baseman Greg Sain is leading the Torero offense in at bats with 92 and with a .356 batting average

Spotlight: Greg Sain
U. of San Diego Vista

Jackie Kim
Staff Writer

With dreams of becoming a future major league baseball player, freshman Greg Sain practices his talent on the USD baseball team.

The 6’2" third baseman from Torrance, Calif. has spent his entire life improving his baseball skills and knowledge. “The enjoyment that you receive out of playing baseball is dictated by how much effort you put into it,” Sain said.

After playing four vigorous years of baseball at West High School, the Detroit Tigers drafted Sain in the 16th round of last year’s amateur draft. Although the team offered him $40,000 to sign, Sain decided to further his education at USD.

“Financially, it was a better decision for me to go to college than to pursue my professional career right off the bat,” Sain said. After college, Sain plans to pursue a major league career in baseball and eventually find a job that relates to baseball or another sport.

“I would like to play ball for a California team because it’s close to home and I love California so I don’t think that playing in any other state would be better,” Sain said.

Sain attributes his baseball success to the support and encouragement of his greatest mentor, his father.

“My Dad was always there to motivate and encourage me, and he pretty much taught me how to play the game,” Sain said.

Sain’s father, Tom Sain, also played baseball as a minor league professional for both the Minnesota Twins and the Houston Astros.

Practicing six days a week for three to four hours each day leaves little time for fun and relaxation. As a communications major and a business minor, Sain spends most of his time studying when he’s not on the field.

“I spend most of my time concentrating on baseball and school,” Sain said, “But when I do have spare time I like to hang out with my friends, relax and play with my truck.”

The time-consuming baseball schedule that Sain lives by will not end for him in May. This summer, Sain will travel to Alaska to play in the Alaskan league from June to August. He will play for a team called “The Goldpanners” in Fairbanks.

U. of San Diego Vista