Avery Rivero is that kid–he put in the work and realized his childhood dream of playing baseball in college. Avery, a Lee’s Summit West grad (2019) and North Central Missouri College freshman, shares about his work ethic and why he considers joining Inside Edge 6 years ago to be the best decision he made.
Congratulations on realizing your childhood dream. Now that you have completed the fall season, is it everything you thought it would be?
Everything and a lot more. It’s such an awesome feeling to wake up every day and get to play baseball. Fall ball came and went in a flash. I literally had so much fun that it seems it wrapped up as soon as it started. Even though we’re not on the field anymore, we still spend several hours a day working to get better. Right now, I’m in a strength phase, which means I lift several times during the week. I’m a pitcher so I’m not throwing right now. I’ll start throwing near the end of November. Coach Donnie has an off-season plan for us, and so far, it’s been amazing to have such a focused plan.
As an aside, NCM has one of the coolest logos.
Yeah, we all love it. I have too many t-shirts and hats with it on them.
How was it like when you arrived on campus?
It was awesome. My parents helped me move in, and when they left, it really hit me that I’m here. I’m in college and playing baseball. That feeling of amazement wore off after a few days and I settled into my daily routine.
Now that you’ve settled in, what’s your typical day like?
During fall baseball, I went to class until 1 PM, and then we were on the field or in the gym from 2 PM until 5 or 6 PM. Now that fall ball is over, we’ve started winter workouts. That means we have morning workouts at 6 AM, and then I go to class from 8 until 1 PM. We head back for indoor workouts at 6 PM, and we’re usually there until 8 PM. It’s a lot of hard work but it’s fun to do.
You said that your work ethic really helped you get to play in college. Can you explain what that means?
I’m a pitcher only, which to some people means we don’t have to work as hard as fielders. We don’t have to hit and our fielding work is pretty limited. But, at the same time, we work the same amount, I go into practice every day going as hard as I can and working to get better. I also hit the gym and do mobility work.
I feel like I started understanding how to work as a pitcher after my junior year. That’s when I started working with Bob (Premier Baseball, The EDGE). He taught me so much about being a pitcher and how to structure workouts.
That’s impressive. Having a great coach does so much for development.
Thank you. I have to thank Todd, too. He helped me stay focused on my goal; he always believed in me and he was an amazing coach. Getting to college really helped me realize how Inside Edge is like a family. It wasn’t just about practice and winning games; Todd cared about me and wanted the best for me. I joined Inside Edge the year it started and I met and made new friends that literally have turned into family. Playing with them was a big part of my life and it taught me so much that carries over to playing baseball in college. And, of course, I have so many fun memories from those 6 years.
Speaking of family, I understand your grandmother makes your favorite dish. What is it?
My grandmother’s flan! It’s a traditional Cuban flan de leche. It’s similar to cheesecake but oh so much better. It’s really creamy and sweet with a caramel topping. She makes it for me every time I come home to visit.
In closing, what advice would you give to a young IE player?
There are a few things. First, chase your dreams. Don’t let anyone or anything keep you from living your dream. If you want to play in college or even the MLB, set yourself to the task and do the work. Inside Edge provides great coaches and facilities. Use them.
Second, and perhaps most importantly, school grades really do matter. Don’t wait too late to develop good study habits. Good grades open doors that take you to new places. Just like baseball, do the work.
And, lastly, it’s the words I live by, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
