Trent Giambrone fulfilling his dreams every single day

There's usually a specific moment that sticks out to a professional baseball player about when they knew they could make a living playing baseball. Whether it is a state championship game in high school, or a home run hit as a little kid, the moment is usually a big one.
However, for Tennessee Smokies second baseman Trent Giambrone, he never really had that moment. Instead, he always felt confident in his ability to succeed in professional baseball.
"It's been my dream since I was a kid (to play baseball)," Giambrone said. "I always felt like I had it. Some people may disagree with that, but I've just taken it a day at a time and I feel like this is what God wants me to do so I'm going to do it."
Giambrone has done just that as he is in his third year with the Chicago Cubs organization. This season, Giambrone has played in 72 of 79 games with the Smokies.
A native of Metairie, Louisiana, Giambrone grew up with a complex in his backyard that played baseball year-round. Instead of waiting to play with kids his age, Giambrone could not wait, begging his mother to sign him up early.
"My mom had to sign me up a year and a half early because I always begged and begged to go play, but I was too young." Giambrone said. "So, I started about a year and a half earlier and played in that age group until high school when they figured out my age."
In high school, Giambrone impressed as he was an All-State choice during his senior season in 2012. Impressing scouts with his ability, Giambrone was drafted out of high school in the 2012 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 30^th round.
Giambrone passed on signing with the Dodgers and decided to spend two years at Jones County Junior College before ending up at Delta State University. His time at Delta State was capped off by a senior season where he hit .386 and was an ABAC Rawlings Gold Glove winner.
Impressed with his college career, multiple MLB teams worked out Giambrone. But it was the Cubs who showed the most interest, even inviting him for a workout at Wrigley Field.
"It was pretty awesome to just step into that stadium and see what it was like and meeting everyone," Giambrone said. "There were a lot of people from the organization there so just talking to them was pretty cool."
Eventually, Giambrone was selected in the 25^th round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Cubs. The moment was more special as the Cubs were in the process of making their run to their first World Series in over 100 years.
"In that instance, it was awesome," Giambrone said on getting drafted in 2016. "Getting to be a part of this organization and learning the guys. You learn a lot (in the organization)."
Giambrone has made a move up each of the three years he has been in the Cubs minor league system. Last season, Giambrone hit 12 home runs and knocked in 44 runs for Myrtle Beach in Single-A Advanced.
One of the reasons that Giambrone has had such a smooth move up the Cubs Minor League system is because of his versatility to play different positions. Giambrone has played five different positions this season for the Smokies, something that the Cubs love seeing from their players.
"It's part of the development," Giambrone said. "I'll play wherever I can help. Whatever they want me to develop at each spot, I'll do every single day and get after it."
Giambrone looks to be on pace to move up another level as he currently leads the Smokies in home runs and has just five errors, despite the different positons. Giambrone has been on fire recently, homering four times in his last 10 games.
As he has moved on through his baseball career, Giambrone has many people to thank for making him who he is, but one thing in particular has pushed him to where he is right now.
"First, my Lord and Savior (biggest influence) for giving me the ability and touching my heart and realizing that hey you have a gift, go play to the best of your ability and give the glory to him," Giambrone said.
Written by Rob Harvey, broadcast assistant for the Tennessee Smokies