by Brian Yalung
Filipino-born pitcher Miguel Trota Salud has created a stir in US baseball after helping the California Lutheran University Kingsmen to the US NCAA Div 3 championship.
Individual awards, however, came as no surprise for the 6-foot Salud.
He won the UAAP MVP for baseball back in 2012, the same year the sport was first included.
From there, a rare transfer to rival school Ateneo hardly mattered with Miguel handing the Blue Eagles the championship and once again winning the Blue Eagle of the Year, Rookie of the Year and the co-MVP award (with Matt Laurel). Despite the achievements, Miguel was still looking for something unique and he knew it could only be done abroad.
Miguel was in town recently and Manila Bulletin Sports Online got a chance to sit down with the 22-year-old baseball player to shed some light on why he left for the United States in 2013 and how life has changed since then.
“One my coaches, Oscar Marcelino, (his trainer) saw me playing (for Ateneo) that season and told me that I had more potential if I went abroad. I was actually ready to stay in Ateneo but when coach told me about that potential, it sort of drove me to go out,” explains Salud.
The decision to go abroad carried heavy risks and Miguel shares his struggles and initial regrets of leaving.
“The first two years, I honestly did. After not worrying about being on the bench, I was a benchwarmer when I joined Glendale Community College. I really had to earn my spot. I didn’t know the system and I had to adjust a lot,” shares Miguel.
