Aaron Reese Powers Past Disability on the Diamond
Carver freshman Aaron Reese was born with a physical disability. But Reese refuses to let that stop him as he pursues his dream of playing college baseball.
“When Aaron was born, we did not know he was going to be as big as he was,” Deirdre said. “He was 13 pounds when I had him. Being that he was so big, he got stuck coming out. So in order to save his life… they had to pull him out and in doing that, they ended up dislocating a nerve from his spinal cord. But at that time, I didn’t care. My baby was alive.”
Aaron had several surgeries, but he still doesn’t have full usage of his arm. He does not let that stop him though.
“His doctor always told me,” Deirdre said, “I want you to understand that he can never miss what he never had. And so what we use as two hands, he does with one, effortlessly.”
Aaron grew up serving as a bat boy for his older brother Kendall Reese and quickly fell in love with baseball. Kendall trained Aaron and the two developed a way for Aaron to work around the limitations with his arm. The rest is history.
“When I catch the ball,” Aaron said, “I take the glove off, then throw it with the same hand I catch the ball with, so that’s very different from what other people do.”
He doesn’t want coaches or teammates to make excuses for him.
“I want people to think that I’m just the same as any other player and it definitely pushes me harder because I do have a disadvantage,” he said, ” so I definitely strive for it more and work harder.”
Aaron says he’s thankful for his mom’s unconditional support.
“The main thing is,” Deidre said she tells Aaron, “be the best at what you can do and of course, your character always defines who you are and what you’re going to become, because that’s what people are going to remember about you. And I want you to remember a great kid. Cause he is.”
Coaches describe Aaron as goofy and fun, but also very determined.
“We tell the kids,” Carver assistant baseball coach Melvin Tyus said, “‘If a kid can go out there and not make any excuses when he has a disability, why are you making excuses?.'”
Aaron sets such a good example that served as the captain of his middle school. And even now as a freshman, Carver head baseball coach Eric Nelson said older players look to Aaron.
“Aaron’s a born leader,” Nelson said. “When he gets on the mound, he knows how to control the game. He’s patient. He throws a lot of strikes and gets a lot of outs. That’s how you win the ball game.”
Like when his team won the middle school championship. Twice. As an 8th grader, Aaron was named Pitcher of the Year. But he’s a dual-threat.
“At the plate, he’s amazing,” Nelson said. “You wouldn’t think a kid with one arm could swing the bat like that. He has bat speed, he has power.”
And so much talent that his dreams of playing in college can come true.
“I’ve been here six, seven years,” Nelson said. “We have like seven children in college. And Aaron will probably be the next one to go.”
Deirdre and Aaron want to inspire parents and kids dealing with a disability to not let it stop the child from living out their dream.
“Parents, even if your child has any form of disability,” Deirdre said, “treat them like they’re normal. Because that’s their normal. And if you do that, they will be fine. And just love on them and support them throughout.”
Advice that has empowered Aaron to succeed on the field and in the classroom.
Aaron offered some of his own: “Just keep going, keep striving for it, and never give up.”
