Player Profile: OF Michael Choice

Professional baseball can be a grind like no other. First, there are the long bus rides of the minor leagues, which are accompanied by many emotional highs and lows that plague young and aspiring baseball players. Then, the big leagues loom with few spots, and many hopeful applicants.

For Michael Choice, the Oakland A's first round draft pick in 2010 at 10th overall, the dream of becoming a professional baseball player goes back to Arlington, TX when he was first exposed to the likes of Ivan Rodriguez and Rafael Palmeiro.

"I went to a bunch of (Rangers) games. It was mostly against the Angels, Oakland and Seattle, but my dad used to take me and everything kind of clicked from there," explained Choice who is enjoying his first couple of weeks since signing on the dotted line with the A's.

The fact that the team that would make his dream come true in 2010 as they selected him 10th overall isn't lost on Oakland's 'choice' from the draft.

"I grew up with Rangers games, so I guess I got drafted by the rival," he joked. "I love watching AL West games, and it's great to be a part of a good organization where there's a history of producing great ballplayers and competing with big-market teams."

Choice's road to Vancouver is due to a very successful three years with the UT-Arlington Mavericks, where the Outfielder was a teammate of current Canadians RHP Nathan Long.

"It's great", when referring to how himself and Long are reunited with Vancouver, "Nate was always a big clubhouse guy and was a bit of a character. He's high energy and a guy who made me comfortable coming here as I met all the new guys on the team."

Since joining Long and the C's after he made his pro debut, albeit briefly with the AZL A's, Michael has been spectacular to say the least. In his first 14 games wearing a Canadians uniform, Choice is hitting .321, and has two triples to go along with his four home runs and 16 RBI.

Part of his success is related to the everyday work ethic that the 20 year old uses to get better.

"To get better, you need to be at the ballpark every day. Whether it's hitting in the cages, or working on routes in the outfield, it all helps you get to a point where you're happy with where you are as an everyday player."

Playing at Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium can be daunting for any player, let alone one straight out of University, but it is something that doesn't intimidate the young Texan.

"If you focus on staying 'gap to gap', and staying on top of the ball, good things will happen."

Last summer, he rubbed elbows with the collegiate Team USA, which helped Choice adapt to a whole range of baseball, which has since carried over into his professional experience."

"It helped a lot. That's a huge experience for anyone, because it's a small taste of professional baseball. The stadiums are bigger, the crowds are louder, there's better competition and you use wooden bats."

Although he is happy to call Vancouver home for the short-term, Choice is hoping to climb the Oakland ladder as quickly as possible.

"That's the name of the game in professional baseball. You want to move up through the minor leagues, and as you pass through the system, the main goal remains to be in the Major Leagues. I play hard every day, and I feel that regardless of the outcome, when you work hard success will come out of that."

As a first round draft pick some will expect Choice to go above and beyond, something that is not lost on him as he fully adjusts to the professional game.

"It's a good feeling to know you're being watched, and that there are a lot of expectations on you. As a first round pick, you want to be a guy who can be promoted quickly."