Ni Brian Yalung
UNTI-UNTI, nagmamarka ang pangalan ni Filipino-born Miguel Trota Salud sa US matapos gabayan ang California Lutheran University Kingsmen sa US NCAA Division 3 championship.
Ito ang unang kampeonato ng eskwelahan at doble ang saya ni Salud matapos tanghaling Most Outstanding Player.
Hindi na estranghero sa pagtanggap ng individual award si Salud, ngunit ispesyal ang parangal sa kasalukuyan.
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Naging Most Valuable Player si Salud sa UAAP noong 2012, ang unang taon na nilaro ang baseball sa liga. Ngunit, kaagad siyang nalipat sa Ateneo kung saan tinanghal siyang Blue Eagle of the Year, Rookie of the Year at co-MVP ni Matt Laurel.
Sa kabila ng katayuan, tila may kulang sa hangad na pedestal si Salud.
Sa esklusibong panayam ng Manila Bulletin Sports Online, naikuwento ng 22-anyos ang ilang dahilan sa kanyang desisyon na ipagpatuloy ang career sa Amerika.
“One my coaches, Oscar Marcelino, (his trainer) saw me playing (for Ateneo) that season and told me that I had more potential if I went abroad. I was actually ready to stay in Ateneo but when coach told me about that potential, it sort of drove me to go out,” pahayag ni Salud.
Sa Amerika, napatunayan din niya na hindi madali ang lahat.
“The first two years, I honestly did. After not worrying about being on the bench, I was a benchwarmer when I joined Glendale Community College. I really had to earn my spot. I didn’t know the system and I had to adjust a lot,” aniya.
Sa kabila ng mga pagsubok, higit siyang nagpursige na matutunan ang sports. Nagkaroon ng positibong resulta ang lahat nang ma-recruit siya ng California Lutheran College.
Ngunit, nagtamo siya ng shoulder injury (rotator cuff) dahilan para hindi siya maisama sa koponan. Nakabalik siya matapos ang isang season ngunit bilang isang practice player.
Sa kabila ng dagok, hindi siya nawalan ng loob at pag-asa at sa pagtitiyaga, tuluyan siyang nakuha ng kopona bilang starting pitcher.
“Honestly it will be all about the scouts now. I was able to snag the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament so scouts will try to come out and see me. I will be playing in a summer league with Division 1 players when I get back to get more exposure. Since I was benched the first two years, scouts don’t have much statistics to see. Hopefully, the added exposure will help,” pahayag ni Salud.
Kabilang sa hinahagaan niya sa MLB si Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw.
“I’m a Dodgers fan so I love Kershaw. Kershaw is my guy and is probably the best pitcher for me right now.”
Sa kasalukuyan, may tatlong Asian pitchers -- Seung-Hwan Oh ng St. Louis Cardinals (relief pitcher), Yu Darvish (Texas Rangers – starting pitcher) at Koji Uehara (Chicago Cubs – relief pitcher) ang naglalaro na sa major, kung kaya’t buo ang paniwala ni salud na makakamit din niya ang pangarap na career.
“Well, hopefully, I can make it. I want to make it to that level. I have the confidence and I know that it is possible and I know I can do it. It’s all about hard work, training and exposure talaga,” sambit ni Salud.
