#SunDevils4Life look back at their time at #MLBU
On what it means to play for ASU
Two-time World Series Champion, 2008 AL MVP, four-time All-Star Dustin Pedroia
It meant a ton. The tradition of Arizona State baseball, it’s the best. It means the world if you have an opportunity to play there and be on that team.
10-year MLB veteran and two-time All-Star Andre Ethier
For me, it was a dream come true. I grew up here in downtown Phoenix, so my whole goal during my early life was to be a Sun Devil. The dream was almost shot down along the way but I found out a way to come back and play here, so it means a lot to me to be a Sun Devil.
Six-year MLB veteran Eric Sogard
For me, it was a dream come true. It was a dream that I watching growing up, watching [Dustin] Pedroia and [Jeff] Larish go at it. It’s somewhere I always wanted to play and I always thought ASU was one of the best programs in the country. From the first second I was able to sign, I signed on the dot.
National League Rookie of the Year, All-Star, and 10-year MLB veteran Bob Horner
It’s always good on a resume to play for the best baseball school in the country. It’s turned out a lot of great players over the years and continues to do that. It’s my good fortune that they wanted me to play here and I was happy to do so.
1981 World Series Champion, American League All-Star, and 11-year MLB veteran Ken Landreaux
Playing for ASU meant everything to me. When I was coming up through little league and in through middle school and high school, I was always looking at college baseball and trying to pick a powerhouse college that I could be a part of, not knowing that I would be able to be good enough to participate in a power house. God willing, I had an opportunity to play for Arizona State University.
Current Boston Red Sox infielder Deven Marrero
That was the most important thing for me. Playing for ASU was what made me who I am today. It got me ready to be in the big leagues and it’s all part of this program. Coming here helps you to get an education first, get ready for that next level and to succeed at the next level.
On how ASU prepares you for to succeed in the Major Leagues
It prepared me a lot. It was the first step toward playing with a lot of different players from other states. You have to try to work on your game together and become a better player. I think that competition helps you going forward. Obviously, I believe in going to college and growing up and learning yourself as a player and learning how to live on your own. It’s tough if you go straight from high school to minor league ball, and you’re living in a city you don’t know and you don’t know how to do laundry yet and you’re trying to figure out how to play baseball for your job. I’m a big believer in going to college and learning about yourself and growing up before you hit the real world.
Three-time World Series Champion, four-time All-Star, 16-year MLB veteran Sal Bando
You can’t go wrong if you go to college and get an education to fall back on and still develop your baseball skills.
Current Boston Red Sox infielder Deven Marrero
The one thing I actually learned here was to practice how you play. Never take practice for granted. Always practice hard and be dedicated to your craft. We only have a short window of time of this baseball life; we don’t get to play this forever. You want to take advantage of this opportunity and make the most of it.
1981 World Series Champion, American League All-Star, and 11-year MLB veteran Ken Landreaux
When I came to ASU, I learned how to socialize, to communicate. I learned how to be on my own, I learned how to be on time, how to follow rules, discipline, all of the life skills.
