From ‘No’ to the Show

Shortly after I arrived in Kansas City in 2008 to begin a job as the Royals pre- and postgame show host on television, the team drafted 18-year-old Eric Hosmer with the third pick in the draft out of high school in Florida. 

I covered every stage of his career,  from his debut, to world champion, to opponent, and now, with his playing days over, Hosmer recently sat beside me as a guest analyst on the pregame show.

Carter Jensen was one month shy of his fifth birthday when Hosmer’s journey began. Now he becomes the sixth player  born in Kansas City, MO to appear in a Royals game. 

His family shared a spring training photo of young Carter with Hosmer, and when I sent it to Hos, the former star texted back: “Ha ha, dude, no way. I’m not that old, am I?”

Carter Jensen (left) meeting Eric Hosmer at spring training in 2016

Jensen grew up at Kauffman, watching Salvador Perez and even attending World Series games as a fan. Today, he’s backing up the same Salvy he once idolized.

He told me, “Baseball has always been my first love when it comes to sports… Coming here, I have pictures of me young, up in the stands, up in the nosebleeds and being down here now is awesome.”

But the road here wasn’t smooth. Before high school, he tried out for the Royals Scout team and didn’t make it. Instead of giving up, he let that rejection fuel him. “I knew that I had to put in the work if I wanted to be on that team,” he said. 

All he wanted to do was play for that team with the name Royals on his chest. He did, for the next three years, and was drafted by his hometown club at 18. At 22, he’s living the dream.

Hosmer’s career is over. Jensen’s is just starting. Both stories prove the same point: small steps, persistence, and perseverance matter.

Small ball matters.

When rejection comes, will you stop, or will you persevere?

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