Ian Kadish

My name is Ian Kadish and I recently graduated from Marshall University with a degree in Business Management and minors in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. I have three younger brothers, Kendall, Max, and Cooper. I have played baseball my entire life and am lucky enough to have the opportunity to continue playing for the Toronto Blue Jays.



I want to thank my Mom and Dad for everything they have ever done to further my baseball career. They have gone through a tremendous amount of work to make sure I am happy and I couldn't thank them enough! I love you guys.

Please feel free to leave comments! Enjoy...

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

MLB Reports #2

So MLB Reports asked me to do another blog entry because there was good feedback on the first one.  This will be a 2 part entry, the first part looking back at my 2011 season and how it went and the second part will be about what my offseason will consist of and my expectations for 2012.

Part 1 - A Look Back at the 2011 Season

In my opinion, the 2011 season had it's ups and downs as well a learning curve, both personally and as a team.  The Bluefield team made a great first impression and was a big hit (no pun intended).  It was the Blue Jays first year in Bluefield after a 52 year existence of the Baltimore Oriole organization.  We surely set the bar high for next year's team.  From what everybody said, the Oriole's didn't win much in Bluefield and the fans didn't show much support because they weren't winning.  We brought a Division Championship to Bluefield in our first year, which the fans were ecstatic about, but what surprised the team was how into the Bluefield/Princeton rivalry the fans were.  I'm telling you, these fans went nuts when we played the Princeton Rays.  They sold out the stadium every game of the series because of the close proximity of the two teams (only about 15 minutes).  The rivalry was for the Mercer Cup.  It's called the Mercer Cup because the two teams are located in Mercer County.  The Blue Jays won the Mercer Cup this year and I honestly think the fans were happier we won the Mercer Cup rather than the Division Championship!  Princeton had won the Mercer Cup the past several years and it's about time it's back in Bluefield.  We made it all the way to the League Championship vs. the Johnson City Cardinals, but came up just short.  They won the best of 3 series to capture their second league championship in a row.

The team was a great group of guys.  Everybody got along and a big reason why we were so successful was due to our chemistry.  Everybody pushed one another and everybody picked each other up.  We played as a team, just how our manager wanted us to play.  He always said to put aside your personal goals and go after the team goals and your personal goals will follow.  Our coaching staff was just as great.  I can't even begin to explain how much I learned from my manager.  He taught me not only on the field, but off the field.  I actually have a notebook full of quotes he said and lessons he would teach the team throughout the season.  Now that I think of it, I still owe him a Marshall University clock and Montgomery Inn barbecue sauce (Montgomery Inn is a world famous rib place in Cincinnati with the BEST barbecue sauce in the history of all barbecue sauces).  He loves collecting clocks and has a great amount of them hanging in the locker room.  I owe him a Marshall University one because I came into the locker room one day and saw a WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY clock hanging from a wall.  Marshall and West Virginia are HUGE rivals and it's either one or the other...he told me if I got him a Marshall clock he would get rid of the West Virginia clock.

I could go on and on with the stories, but overall the season was a successful one, and one that made me want more...Now that it's the offseason, I can concentrate on what I need to improve on and prepare for a strong Spring Training and 2012 season...

Part 2 - Offseason and Expectations for 2012


This offseason, I am back in Huntington, West Virginia.  Marshall is located in Huntington and there are a few different reasons why I chose to come back even though I graduated last May.  The biggest reason I chose to come back is due to the fact that I would have a great gym to train at for free.  The Strength and Conditioning Coach that I had in college told me I could train there in the offseason for free if I wanted to.  The pitching coach at Marshall also told me that I could come throw with him whenever I wanted/needed to.  He offered to have somebody catch my bullpens when the time came and he also said I could face some hitters before I left for Spring Training, which will be a great help.  That makes it so much easier for me rather than being at home because I would have to find a gym in Cincinnati and pay a monthly fee and more than likely the gym wouldn't have everything I needed.  I also would be scrambling to find somebody/somewhere to throw when the time came.

After a long college season, followed by another professional short-season, I gave my body a week off to recuperate from all the wear and tear of the baseball season.  This offseason, my plan is to hit the weight room hard in order to become bigger, faster, and stronger in a baseball pitching aspect.  The Blue Jays gave everybody in the organization a big booklet with specific workouts in them.   I have specific goals that I am wishing to achieve in the offseason.  I also want to improve on my flaws not only in the weight room, but on the field as well.  I am going to take time off from throwing to give my arm a rest, but not too long of a rest because I can't use spring training as a time for my arm to get in shape.  I need to go to spring training 100% ready to go...

Aside from training in the offseason,  I got a job working at Dick's Sporting Goods.  It's just like a Sports Authority or any other sporting good store like that.  I wanted to get a job because I do not want to rely on my parents for everything.  Many minor league players have to get a job in the offseason because not everybody signs a large signing bonus so it is not uncommon to get an offseason job.  I am actually looking forward to it because it will keep me busy when I am not training.

My expectations are just like any other minor league player's expectations.  We all have goals we want to achieve and we all have dreams we want to come true.  I'm no different.  I am very hard on myself and push my body to great lengths, almost to failure because I know it will pay off during the season.  The work I put in off the field will prepare me for every situation on field.  There are specific expectations/goals that I have.  Of course, one of them is to hopefully receive a promotion, but before I can do that I have to better myself.  I'm going to work extremely hard this offseason, harder than I have ever worked because that's all I know.  I have worked extremely hard to get to this point and I am still not satisfied... I'm going to get after it and hopefully the hard work will pay off...

It's about time...

The first part of this week has been a much needed one, because I finally found a job.  I'm going to be working at Dick's Sporting Goods in Team Sports Sales.  It's about time I found a job (I know my dad is happy).  The interview was not your typical interview either.  The guy only wanted to talk about baseball, the Blue Jays, and minor league baseball, which I had no problem doing because I felt more comfortable doing that compared to a typical interview anyway.  

I had ONLY applied to about 20 different places...I never thought getting a job would be as hard as it was.  I think I had a hard time because I have never had a job before in part because I have never had any time.  That made it more difficult for me because more often than not, places would rather hire somebody with experience.  Ever since I can remember, I have been busy with baseball or some other sport and have not had the time to get a job (Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about it).  A great deal of stress was lifted off my chest when I was offered the job and I feel so relieved to finally have been hired.  I actually look forward to working because it will keep me busy...is that bad? 

I go in tomorrow at 3 for orientation.  I am not sure what orientation/training will consist of, but it can't be too hard...

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

On My Own...

Due to the fact that I am not represented by an agent/advisor, I am left having to supply myself with running shoes, training shoes, spikes, gloves, and all the other necessities of professional baseball.  The last couple of days, I have been trying to get ahold of various companies, such as Under Armour, Nike, New Balance, Wilson, Louisville Slugger and Rawlings to talk to them about an endorsement deal.  I have written separate e-mails based on each company that I am hoping to send out.  I had my dad look over them for me just to make sure they were business appropriate (my dad is a lawyer so he deals with business e-mails and letters all the time).  Most agents already have these connections, but since I am not represented, I have to build them myself.

So far, I have contacted New Balance, Louisville Slugger, and Under Armour.  My goal for tomorrow is to reach the other companies by either phone or e-mail.  I have been lucky so far in not having too much trouble finding the contacts.

I was lucky enough to be able to find the e-mail address to New Balance and Louisville Slugger.  Under Armour was a little bit tougher.  Thankfully, the internet has almost everything.  I was able to find out who I needed to be in contact with at Under Armour.  I called the customer service number and they transferred me to a receptionist who transferred me to who I was trying to reach.  I did not think I would actually be able to have a conversation with the person, but luckily he answered!  I was shocked he answered because I was preparing myself for the voicemail.  I told him what I was trying to do and why I wanted to contact Under Armour.  I can not even begin to describe how impressed I was with him because he actually took the time to listen to what I had to say.  I developed a great amount of respect for him and Under Armour.

Hopefully, I will not have a hard time tomorrow trying to find the contacts for the other companies and hopefully, I hear back from Under Armour, New Balance, and/or Louisville Slugger.  I will keep you guys updated...

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

I'm Not Normal...

Yes, you read that right...I'm not normal.  I haven't met another person that loves the feeling of being sore after a hard work out like I do.  Last week, I took the week off to let my body recover after 2 hard baseball seasons (college and short season for the Jays).  I started working out this past Monday again and needless to say, I am sore.  I lifted legs Monday and upper body Tuesday.  Wednesday is the day where I don't lift, but I will still do my shoulder program.  When I woke up Tuesday, my legs were toast.  And when I woke up this morning, my back was toast.  I don't know why I love that feeling, but it gives me satisfaction that I know I worked hard and got after it in the weight room.  There will be and has been a great amount of stretching so I will not get too tight and stay lean.

During my week off last week, I went job hunting.  I have applied to 11 different places and am waiting to hear back.  Hopefully, one of them will call, but if not I will continue to look.  I had no idea it would be this hard to find a job.  Because I just got into town last week and school was already 2 weeks in, most places have already hired the college students.  If I haven't found a job by this weekend, I am going to go home Friday night to watch my brother, Max.  The high school football team plays the big rival this weekend, Indian Hill and I haven't been home in a long time.

On the baseball side of things, I want to congratulate the Vancouver Canadians for winning the Northwest League Championship.  They are affiliated with the Blue Jays and are the other short season team.  I knew several people on the team and couldn't have been happier for them.  The Blue Jays minor league system is having an unbelievable season.  Bluefield (rookie level short season), Vancouver (short season A), Lansing (LowA), Dunedin (HighA), and New Hampshire (AA) all made playoff appearances with Bluefield, Vancouver, Lansing and New Hampshire making it all the way to the Championship series.  Vancouver is the only winner so far as Lansing and New Hampshire are still playing...Best of luck to them!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

MLB Reports

I was recently approached by MLB Reports to be featured on their website.  We both got together to come up with an idea of what to do and we decided on a blog post about the path I took to get to professional baseball.  Most of you guys that are close to me probably know the story already, but here it is again for the ones who don't...

I went to a small high school just North of Cincinnati, Wyoming High School.  My graduating class was only 160 kids and football is the big thing there (Football is the big high school sport in Ohio).  I actually thought I was going to play college football as a kicker.  I thought I had a better chance at football than I did at baseball even though my childhood dream was to be a big league pitcher.  I was not highly recruited for baseball and if it wasn't for the summer program I played for, I would not have had the chance to play college baseball.  I played for Midland Baseball and that is where I met one of the most influential coaches of my life, Mike Maundrell.  Coach Maundrell taught me everything I know about pitching and taught me exactly what I needed to do to be successful.  Midland is the best summer baseball program in the country and attracts kids from all over the country.  There is a great number of major leaguers that have played for them and it was an unbelievable experience to be able to play for them.  I learned more about baseball in those 3 years than I did at any point up until then.  I committed to play baseball at Marshall University.

I spent 4 years at Marshall, earning my degree in Business Management with minors in marketing and entrepreneurship.  In those 4 years, I learned a tremendous amount about baseball and life.  I really think those 4 years prepared me for professional baseball because I lived on my own and learned how to deal with factors outside of baseball.  I never really had great success in college baseball and at one point, I was ready to transfer out (my mom and dad are the only ones that know how many break downs I had because I was so frustrated.  I was working harder than everybody and I was still not getting the results I wanted.).
After my sophomore year, I went back home to play summer baseball in the Great Lakes League for the Cincinnati Steam.  I went home because I needed to decide if I wanted to go back to Marshall or transfer somewhere else.  That summer was the deciding factor because I got to spend time with my family and play with some very close friends that I had played with growing up.  I went back to Marshall as a Junior and there was a new pitching coach.  Joe Renner was a coach at Midland so I kind of knew him even though he was a new coach.  I was very excited to work with him and after the summer I had, I was newly energized and ready to get back to work.  I continued to work hard and ended up earning the Friday night starter role.  This was a big jump for me because I had never started and the previous 2 years, I was pitching out of the bullpen.  I struggled in the starter role and had again, another frustrating season.
After my Junior year, I went to play with the Rochester Honkers in the Northwoods League.  Playing there was truly the best experience for me since playing for Midland.  All the guys on the team were great guys and we all became pretty close.  The guys on the team taught me how to have fun with baseball again and relax.  I was taking the game way too seriously and was not playing up to how I thought I should be playing because I was too uptight.  Going into my senior season, the coaches were wanting to put me into the closer's role and I couldn't have been happier.  I embraced the role and told myself I was going to have more fun this year.  Senior year was much more fun than the previous 3 years because I was more laid back.  After my senior season, I went home to wait and see what would happen with the draft.

I won't lie, I was hoping I was going to get drafted, but as day 3 came, I was slowly beginning to think that I was not going to get a chance to play professional baseball and keep my dream alive.  My dad and I went golfing on day 3 of the draft just to try to get my mind off of things, but I was still thinking about it.  I was on my phone all day and when I learned that it was late in the draft and I still had not gotten picked yet, I began to talk with my dad about where I go from there.  I did not know if I wanted to go to grad school or try to get a job in the real world.  As soon as the draft was over, we were just finishing golfing and that's when I got the call.  Nick Manno, the area scout for the Blue Jays, called me and explained the situation to me.  He said he knew that money did not matter to me and he knew that all I ever wanted was a chance to prove myself and play.  He offered me a free agent contract and I gladly accepted!  My dream was still alive, and I couldn't have been happier!

From there, I was off to Florida for a mini-camp and to keep my dream alive, just like every other little 12 year old, to be a big league pitcher...

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

The Start of the Offseason

Now that the season is over, that means the dreaded offseason is here...I will be living in Huntington, WV. I know my parents probably wish that I was coming home, but I know I will get more done here because I will have the resources I need.  I will have a free gym to workout at with my college strength and conditioning coach and somewhere to throw when I start throwing.  

The offseason also means that I will have to find a job.  I have applied to several places and am still looking.  I think it hurts that I just now got to town because all the college students have started working.  

I am completely moved into my new apartment and finally got cable and internet earlier today.  I was quite bored the last 2 days without internet or cable.  The only internet source I had was my phone. And the only thing I could watch on TV was a movie I had (the movie Wall Street, which I had never seen before.  I thought it was a good movie, but I did not like the ending.)

Even though it's the off season, I will still be blogging, but it may not always be about baseball (it more than likely will have something to do with baseball, but since I am not playing there will be other topics I will blog about).  If there is anything specific you guys would like me to blog about please let me know! I would be more than happy to...

For now, I am off to make dinner, hopefully I don't burn down the apartment complex! 

Championship Series!

In my opinion, the two best teams in the league were in the Championship series (us and the cardinals).  We both finished in first in our divisions and had played each other evenly throughout the season.  The first series between us at Bluefield was won by the Bluejays.  The second series at Johnson City was won by the Cardinals.  Going into the championship series, we thought we had a great chance at winning because we had home field advantage.

We were winning the entire game because we scored first.  I think scoring first is a huge momentum swing in the game because the other team has to play catchup.  We scored in the first inning on a 3 run home run by Kevin Pillar.  We were winning 3-1 until the 7th inning until the scratched across another run making it 3-2.  The score remained the same going into the bottom of the ninth.  The first batter reached base on a double in the gap past a diving center fielder.  The next guy also doubled in the gap to score the tying run and we still did not have any outs.  The next batter was retired, while the following hitter was walked.  There were now runners on first and second. The following hitter worked the count to 3 balls 2 strikes before delivering the game winning hit just over the shortstops reach.  The Cardinals won 4-3.

We went back to Bluefield and on the way back, the bus was dead silent.  Everybody was pissed off about the game and we couldn't believe we lost it.  We had to move on though and think about the next game.  We couldn't live in the past.  We had to handle our business and take care of what we had to take care of in game 2 to live to play game 3.

Game 2 was close with the exception of one inning.  They scored 4 runs in the inning putting the game just out of our reach.  They won game 2 meaning they were the champions.  I had to watch them dog pile on our home field and celebrate at our home stadium while we couldn't do anything but watch.  It was one of the worst moments ever.  I hate losing and I hate seeing other people celebrate.

Although we did not win the championship, we had a great year and an unforgettable one at that.  I met a great bunch of guys and can't wait to see them again at Spring Training.  

Playoff Time Round 1!

In the first round of the playoffs, we had to play the Elizabethton Twins (the team that just waxed our ass a couple of series before).  The first game was at Elizabethton while the second and third game (if necessary) were played at Bluefield.  Everybody on the team was amped up for the playoffs.  We were all dragging the previous series, but when the playoffs came around there was a new sort of energy that the team had and everybody was itching to play.

The first game at Elizabethton was intense.  We won, but the whole game was intense.  We got a great pitching effort from Tyler Ybarra and Misual Diaz.  I pitched a clean ninth inning to secure the win and the whole team was excited after the game.  We were going back home for game 2 and the chance to clinch a spot in the championship series.

Game 2 was not like the first.  We lost forcing a final game 3.  The second game was not even close and they jumped out to an early lead and never looked back.  It was one of those game that we just had to forget about and move on.

In game 3, we jumped out to an 8-1 lead after a few innings, but could not hold it.  They came barreling back narrowing the lead to 8-7, but we held on and in the 8th inning, we scored some more runs making it 11-7 and securing the win.  I came in in the 6th inning with a runner on first base and one out.  I struck the first guy out, but the second guy hit a hanging change-up out narrowing the lead to 8-7.  I struck the next guy out as well ending the inning.  I pitched 2 more clean innings before being relieved in the ninth.  Misual Diaz pitched a clean ninth inning.  We won the series and were going to the championship!

Once again, we all celebrated like we did in Danville after clinching the division championship.  There was champagne and a bunch of pictures taken.  Everybody was drenched in champagne and the locker room was soaked (I feel bad for the clubby that had to clean the locker room later that night).  The following day we were traveling to Johnson City to play game one of the championship series (we had home field advantage once again)...