When talking about facing adversity, I am no stranger to it. I was born on October 16, 1989 in San Diego, Ca where I nearly died. Black, blue, and purple, were the colors I turned as I was being choked by the umbilical cord. I’m pretty sure we don’t come into this world knowing how to fight. Or is that a natural born instinct? To me, from day one I’ve always been a fighter. My Mother was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I’ll bring up the relevance later.
Up until the age of 6 or 7, I’ve been a right hander until my step-father convinced my mother by saying “We should change him to be a lefty, they’re better for baseball.” After that, I’ve been a lefty ever since.
I went from not reaching the plate in little league to touching 94 MPH one time while playing in the New York Mets organization. Going from being one of the best players on the team and making All-Stars every year, to not making it one year and then being the first to make TOC “Tournament of Championship ” and All-Stars in the same year.
To being the smallest guy as a pitcher and having some teams look at me in high school and then getting over looked. To getting kicked off my junior college team at San Diego Mesa College and being told the previous year to possibly not return, to getting a baseball scholarship to Mid America Christian University in Oklahoma City, an NAIA program, and only playing three full seasons of college ball, to getting signed as a free agent by the Mets.
From having a good first year and not moving up as a lefty, to getting my mechanics changed and then have three TERRIBLE outings in spring training. Pitching coaches would come up to me and ask, “Are you okay? You are not pitching like yourself. We wanted to move you up to Single A, but you weren’t pitching like yourself so we have to choose someone else.” With me then replying “I’m just trying to use these new mechanics you guys are showing me, and show you all that I am coachable.” Then go from being released after my 2nd season and another good year, to not knowing what to do next, feeling afraid to return home and feel like a failure.
Of course, I returned to the hotel room to cry my eyes out at getting my first taste of professional baseball and seeing the business side of the game.
Almost there #milb #indyball #roadtothe show #baseball pic.twitter.com/BTsIvYEYdp
— David Wynn II (@Dwynn6one9) January 24, 2015
I got my first taste of Independent baseball and then I was released two more times in the same year, and feeling like this isn’t what I envisioned my dream to look or feel like. I always figured God had a plan for me, so I kept faith in every situation, believing he will find a way out. But after being released three times in the same year, has me questioning myself, my abilities and if I’m even in the right profession. It must be the fighter in me because after all that and more, I still find myself chasing this dream that I had at five years old; I am 27 now.
~ David Wynn, II
From A Players Eyes is a feature that shares the baseball players Journey’s in their own words of whom are still working towards their dreams of playing Major League Baseball, as well as those that never got the chance and had to leave the game they love behind. Read their stories only at Legends on Deck.
David Wynn II
David Wynn II was born on October 16, 1989 and is a native of San Diego, Ca. He was converted into a left handed pitcher at a young age and signed free agent contract in 2011 with the New York Mets. He played in their minor league system from 2012-2014. David has spent two years in the Independent Baseball Leagues as well as playing for San Sebastián in Puerto Rico. David believes that 'Whats meant for you, is meant for you and no one can stop what God has in store for you.' "Walking by faith and not by sight."
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