Terriers greeted by a familiar face in Scott Thorman

Ontario Terriers players, parents and coaches had a special guest at The Baseball Zone.

Scott Thorman stopped by few hours of baseball banter Sunday. A former first round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2000, he spent two years in the majors with the Braves.

For the past three years Thorman has been coaching and managing in the Kansas City Royals organization and in 2016 was named rookie-class Appalachian League manager of the year. The Royals have not decided where he will manage next season. 

During Thorman’s visit, he enthusiastically and engagingly conveyed invaluable information to a group of close to 70 players, parents and coaches. 

And the message was simple ... anything in life can be achieved, through hard work, desire and discipline. He noted the importance of planning, whether for the approach to your next at bat or simply having a plan for day-to-day life activities. 

Thorman spoke of how baseball can beat you down in a tough way, so much so, that self-doubt can at times creep into your mind to the point where players ask why play the game? The point was adversity can be a player’s biggest enemy and finding ways to deal with it can help players on the path to success. 

In a game where failure figures prominently, players can develop confidence by understanding that it is a given and that there will always be another at bat. Thorman’s message was one of empathy (he’s been there before) and not sympathy -- the latter adds very little to the equation.

Much of the discussion was a combined talk of hitting and other aspects of becoming a better player. However, what really resonated was how Thorman talked about the game as of way of developing day-to-day life skills. Face it, life can also beat you down and life experience can, at times, be negative. In saying that, Thorman spoke about self-motivation and how it can affect you in the pursuit of success. 

He finished by talking about trust and how trusting yourself helps you compete from the very first day of spring training to Game 7 of the World Series.

All in all, the information was invaluable to everyone in attendance. The group was interactive and asked questions.

Thorman hit 16 homers for the Braves in 175 games batting .222 with a .667 OPS and another 154 homers in 1,083 games in the minors where he hit .272 with a .786 OPS.

Accompanying Thorman, was Ed Heather, senior advisor to the Terriers and 20-year scout with the Toronto Blue Jays. Heather is also the step dad of Rob Ducey, former Toronto Blue Jays, who played 14 years in the majors. Thorman pointed out how one can strive for success by watching the older players go about their business just as Ducey became an inspiration to himself in his pursuit of pro ball. 

Thorman was coming full circle: speaking to the Terriers, coached by Rick Johnston, for Johnston was Thorman’s hitting coach from the age of 12 on up into the pro ranks.