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Your parents hug you tight as you exchange contact information with the recruiter. You set up a meeting to sign the necessary paperwork, and you meet your new coaches and teammates.

You spend the next year in physical therapy, as recommended by your coaches, and you make a full recovery.

Your first season in Single-A is a successful one, and within a couple years, you’re one of the top prospects in Triple-A.

And then you get the call you’ve always dreamed of getting. “J.D. Martinez got hurt this weekend, so we need you to bat cleanup on Monday. Welcome to the MLB.” It’s Alex Cora, the manager of the Boston Red Sox.

Congratulations, you made it to the MLB.