The Oakland A’s second draft pick, 18-year-old Jared Lansford of Santa Clara, has an intriguing paradox: He can sweat at the gym, hang out with his friends, even enjoy a weekend in Tahoe. But for now, the baseball diamond is off-limits.
Lansford is under orders to prevent injury before he moves to Arizona to pitch for the A’s rookie team.
Lansford’s lifelong dream has begun to materialize, but on the flip side, he said, “It’s my job now to stay in shape, to stay free of injury and to focus.”
A fresh graduate from St. Francis High School in Mountain View, Lansford now faces professional responsibilities and pressures. Indeed, Lansford often describes his rise to professional baseball and the challenges ahead as “heart-wrenching.”
This emotion is not surprising, considering that baseball has always been at the heart of the Lansford family. His father, Carney, a former infielder with the Oakland A’s, has nurtured his two sons’ interest in baseball. Under his father’s guidance, Lansford matured from his days of T-ball in Oregon to clubs and school teams in the Bay Area, where the competition is more heated.
The past four years have been especially intense for the Lansfords. Carney Lansford, who was drafted straight out of high school, has dedicated most of his time to helping his sons become highly competitive players in college or the major leagues.
“My dad quit his job as a major league coach so I could get a scholarship,” said Jared Lansford.
But his father has been more than coach. His father and his older brother, Josh, who is on the roster at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, are Jared’s inspiration. “I always wanted to be like both of them,” he said.
And now he is.
Mom Debbie Lansford has also played a crucial role in the journey, acting as her son’s spiritual and emotional guide.
“She prayed for me every morning,” Jared Lansford said, a hint of gratitude in his voice.
As Lansford faced the hustle and bustle of his senior year, participating on his school and club baseball teams and facing the unrelenting scrutiny of major league and college scouts, his mother’s prayers were a definite plus, he said.
Lansford recalls the intimidating pressure in the half-hour before each game. Radar guns aimed at him and eyes wide open, scouts would dissect and judge each throw.
“You are trying to be the best you can be, and it’s nerve-wracking,” Lansford said. “You have to channel your emotions and keep yourself from trying to perform too well.”
For Lansford, the stress was not limited to the field. Like any other teen, Lansford juggled relationships and prepared for college. Many people would balk at the intensity of his feats, but Lansford said, “I never got tired of it.”
Lansford’s persistence paid off when he experienced the ultimate adrenaline rush during his senior trip to Hawaii this spring.
“Before the draft, I never had too many expectations,” Lansford said. So when he found out through the Internet that he had been chosen by the Oakland A’s in the second round of the draft, his reaction was “total shock.”
However, euphoria has given way to reality as Lansford navigates the complexities of a half-million-dollar contract, prepares physically for the training ahead and braces for a relocation to Arizona, where he will play in the lowest of the six Oakland A’s minor league teams.
Now, Lansford and his family must deal with the burdens of a dream come true.
Debbie Lansford had wanted a college education for her son. But he turned down his scholarship to Santa Clara University, where he would have pitched and played infield.
Lansford admits that he will miss being a position player, even though he can now pitch at a flaming 90 mph. But he appreciates his parents for “pushing me — no, supporting me — through this whole process.”
Lansford’s signing bonus is expected to be worth about $550,000; it does not include his salary.
That’s a lot of money. And Lansford knows it.
“Yeah, I’m 18 years old. I don’t need that kind of money right now,” he said with a little nervous laughter.
Almost overnight, Lansford has been transformed from a fairly ordinary adolescent to an adult with star potential — and the trappings of that potential.
Although Lansford speaks with the lightheartedness of a typical teen, he notes of the post-draft life: “Some people do act differently now, but my family and my best friends are exactly the same.”
This is especially important as Lansford moves away from his family. Millions of 18-year-olds face this transition, but Lansford says that for him, “It’s more nerve-wracking. I have a job, which is just pitching.”