Hartman Set To Sign With Cubs

By LEROY BRIDGES
H&R Staff Writer
DECATUR — It’s been 17 years since Mount Zion’s last athlete signed to play professional baseball.
Ryan Hartman’s ending that drought today.
Three days before the Arizona Rookie League begins, the 6-foot-3 left-handed pitcher is signing a contract to play for the Chicago Cubs, who drafted Hartman in the 16th round two weeks ago.
“I am still kind of speechless,” Hartman said. “This is an opportunity of a lifetime.”
Jeremy Current knows exactly what Hartman’s feeling.
Current was the last Mount Zion product drafted and still remembers the day vividly. He went on to play a couple years in the minors before returning to the area.
Fittingly, Hartman and Current have grown close during the past two years after Hartman joined the Decatur Commodores. On draft day, Hartman spent all morning and afternoon on Current’s pond trying to put the process out of his mind. Throughout the whole way, Current was there providing support and advice.
“We got to have some good conversations out there on what to expect on signing a contract and what it’s going to be like shipping out 2,000 miles away from home,” said Current, who knew Hartman was going to be a pro the first time he saw him throw. “I’m very excited for him. He’s got a great opportunity.”
Current emphasized that Hartman has to be prepared for some failure on what is an up-hill battle.
Most players make between $1,000-1,500 a month and the competition includes everything from high school studs to college graduates. The players lucky enough to make the bigs — or even make a living playing — go through a lot of growing pains.
“You’re going to struggle; it’s going to happen,” Current told Hartman. “You’re facing the best and half your team won’t speak English. You’re not pitching in the Apollo Conference anymore and it’s a lot different than Macon County.
“It’s baseball 8 hours a day. If you don’t love it, you’re going to learn to love it.
Even so, Current knows with the maturation that Hartman’s gone through during the past year will help him through the rough patches. And there’s always family and friends to lean on, too.
“He’s made some hurdles of bearing down mentally,” Current said. “He’s matured a ton in a year. Some may have doubted his maturity level, but they can’t now.”
Hartman finished his senior season 8-2 with a 1.28 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 60 innings. He was slated to play baseball at Eastern Illinois, but was going to entertain an offer to play professional ball depending on the money.
The Cubs’ offer was good enough.
Hartman and the Arizona Rookie League Cubs start play on Tuesday in Mesa and the season runs through August 29.
lbridges@herald-review.com|421-6970

Published in the Herald & Review in June 2010.