By Manu Jain
MOSAIC STAFF WRITER
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Thousands upon thousands of kids dream of playing major league baseball when they grow up. Few are fortunate enough to make it to the minor leagues, let alone the majors.
And only a handful are lucky enough to play for the team they grew up idolizing.
This dream came true for 23-year-old Jesse Foppert, starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.
Even more remarkable than being a starting pitcher for the Giants is the fact that Foppert got his shot at age 22.
"It's hard to break into the league so early," said J.T. Snow, the Giants' starting first baseman and a six-time Gold Glove winner. "He's young and has a really bright future."
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Ironically, Foppert had a hard time making the team at San Rafael High School. But once he did, he became a standout shortstop. It wasn't until college that he made the transition to pitching.
It was a difficult change, he said, but he was "talked into pitching" by his baseball coaches at University of San Francisco. Foppert welcomed the challenge and not only excelled at it, but said he "had fun with it, although it was a fast transition."
The transition might have been fast, but his skills developed even faster. In 2001, just two years after he started pitching, Foppert was drafted and on his way to the minors. He described draft day as "very exciting," but rather than panic like many other potential draftees, he "just sat at home with my family and waited for the call."
The call came, and although Foppert said he had no idea what to expect from the minors, he blew through the various leagues (single, double and triple-A). Two years later he was sitting in a dimly lit room with various banners, jerseys and couches where people joked and played cards - the San Francisco Giants' clubhouse.
"I was nervous, but more excited about being called up," Foppert said recently as he sat next to his locker, his cream-colored jerseys hanging behind him. "It was just so hard to believe."
Foppert better believe it, because his teammates strongly believe in him.
"He's young and picked up a lot," said fellow Giants' starting pitcher Kirk Rueter. "He's doing great, and soon he's just going to be that much better."
Starting second baseman Ray Durham said Foppert shows great maturity for his age.
"He's a good pitcher now," Durham said. "Soon, he's going to be great."
As far as pitching is concerned, Foppert's favorite pitch - bar-none - is his fast ball, which averages in the low 90s and tops out in the mid 90s. Foppert uses it whether he's on a roll or in a bases-loaded jam. When he does get into a jam, to focus and ice his nerves, Foppert says he "just slows down and takes things one pitch at a time."
To avoid those jams in the first place, Foppert's pregame ritual is to throw on some Eminem, his favorite artist right now, and "have some pasta."
Foppert said he loves playing for the Giants because he gets to represent the team he and his friends grew up watching. He personally loved both the Giants and the A's growing up, but he said he comes from a long line of "pretty much all Giants fans."
"It's great because I don't have to take crap from my friends," he said.
Foppert also enjoys playing in San Francisco because he feels confident in the Bay Area.
"It's really fun," he said, "because I know how to get around. It's also really nice to be able to see my family."
Family is extremely important.
"They have always been behind everything," he said.
His dad got Foppert interested in baseball in the first place. In fact, his dad taught him to play - he was Foppert's little league coach.
Foppert said he visits his family as much as he can during the season, and nearly all the time during the off-season. He said he loves to spend time with his girlfriend in the off-season. Together, they kick back and watch "The Bachelor," he said, adding quickly: "Because she got me hooked onto it."
Foppert has some advice for young Bay Area hopefuls who have dreams of playing for the San Francisco Giants one day.
"Just play. As long as you have fun playing, just keep playing," he said. "Always work hard, listen to your coaches and take advice from guys who have been around. Basically, stay out of trouble."
Now that he's achieved his childhood dream of making it to the major leagues, Foppert hopes to make a name for himself.
How does he plan to do that?
"One pitch at a time."