Mark Malaska didn’t want to grow up and become a professional baseball player, but that’s what happened to this 24-year-old.
Malaska, a left-handed pitcher for the Bakersfield Blaze, was studying pre-medicine at the University of Akron in Ohio, when he was drafted during his junior year.
With a fast ball of 93 mph, it’s no wonder he was the pitcher at this year’s All-Star game in Delaware.
“It was really fun,” Malaska said of the All-Star game, but later added that the six hour flights to and from Delaware were too long.
This Youngstown, Ohio, native has been playing with the Blaze team for three years, but it’s not the only sport he knows well.
Malaska was a quarterback in high school and holds many fond memories of his football days.
“Baseball is my least favorite sport, my first is football,” he said.
While attending Cardinal Mooney High School in Ohio, Malaska played more than just baseball.
He played, “football, baseball, basketball, and ran track, all sprints,” he said.
Malaska was an outfielder in high school, but started pitching when he got to the pros. He said he has no pregame rituals, but he loves to “sleep all day,” he said. His daily schedule consists of sleeping in, working out and playing baseball.
Malaska said playing for the Blaze team is just like any other job.
“You start at the bottom and move up,” he said.”You play until they don’t want you anymore.”
The key to being a good pitcher, according to Malaska, is “consistent mechanics, get ahead and be patient.” He also advised, “Have fun. People take baseball too seriously.”