Sports, in my opinion, are the most magical, spine chilling, magnificent things in this entire world. Sports are an escape. Every time an athlete steps on the field they feel a sense of freedom and strength. It's home for athletes. Whatever is going on in their lives, the playing field is the ultimate escape. All the worries go away. And sometimes some of the worries are solved on the field. The reason why some people find themselves on the sporting field, or solve life problems, is because sometimes, just sometimes, ordinary people can do extraordinary things. And in sports, ordinary people do extraordinary things when they find the heart, the self-will and are able to control their emotions at their highest. Michael Lorenzen is a pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds. Normal, ordinary person. He’s not the best pitcher in the league, he’s not the best pitcher in his division, hell, he’s probably not even a top seven pitcher on his own team yet. Not saying he won’t be the best pitcher in the league one day, but he’s 24 and has a lot of work to do. And he knows that. Not taking anything away from Lorenzen, he’s a major league pitcher and worked very hard to get to where he is. But what Michael Lorenzen did on a warm, summer night in Cincinnati on August 19, was extraordinary, for an ordinary person, let alone a superstar athlete. The great, late Jim Valvano once said, "Ordinary people can do extraordinary things", especially on a baseball field. Something about that gives me chills across my body. We’re capable of anything.
Michael Lorenzen's dream of becoming a Major League Baseball player started at a young age. He continued to work hard and showcase his talents to reach extraordinary levels. Lorenzen was born and raised in Anaheim, California. Every baseball moment Lorenzen had, he was able to share with his father. His father, Clif was there every step of the way with Michael. Clif loved the game of baseball and he just hoped his son would love it as much as he did. Well, Michael did and he might have even loved it even more. Michael, before making it to the Major Leagues, was considered the 52 best prospect in America in 2013. Not too bad for an ordinary person. His father was the one who helped him every step of the way. Remember, ordinary people do extraordinary things. Yes, I keep on saying that for a reason, and here it is…
Clif Lorenzen, the father of Michael Lorenzen was a great man and a great father. Unfortunately, Clif Lorenzen passed away on August 17, 2016. Clif died unexpectedly. No 24-year-old should ever have to lose their father. No one should have to lose a family member. But, unfortunately, that’s life. Michael Lorenzen, heartbroken and devastated, decided to play the next game the Reds had. The baseball field is a safe haven, an escape and home for athletes. Lorenzen wanted to play and for three hours, maybe get to let go of all the devastating emotion he was feeling in the past 48 hours. It wasn’t easy to play but Lorenzen wanted too. The Reds were playing the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was the top of the seventh inning. Reds manager, Bryan Price, decided to pitch Michael Lorenzen. Before Lorenzen got to the mound he wanted to pay tribute to his father. Clif’s favorite band was The Who. So as Lorenzen was announced into the game he ran out to the song “Who are You?” written and sung by The Who. It was Clif’s favorite song. As Michael was running from the bullpen to the mound, “Who Are You?” blasted throughout the stadium. Michael thought it was the best way to honor his Dad, at least for the moment.
The Reds were winning 6-1 and Lorenzen came into the game with a man on first and second base. Lorenzen had to get two quick outs and that’s exactly what he did. Lorenzen made quick work of the Dodgers and held his emotions in check until he got in the clubhouse. Michael went into the clubhouse by himself, started to think about the moment he was in, started to think about his Dad and then he started to cry. Lorenzen's teammates went down to the clubhouse to retrieve Lorenzen. It was Lorenzen’s turn at bat. Lorenzen didn’t think he was hitting. One, relief pitchers rarely hit and two Lorenzen didn’t think he was going to pitch the next inning. Lorenzen quickly grabbed his bat, batting gloves and helmet. He came up to bat with two men on base. Lorenzen stepped into the box, I’m sure his heart beating hard, his emotions high. Ordinary people do extraordinary things.
Michael Lorenzen saw one pitch, it was a 97 MPH fastball up and away. It didn’t matter, Lorenzen was swinging. Lorenzen swung and drove that pitch to deep right center field, the ball kept carrying and carrying and carrying. The pitcher didn’t think it was hit that hard. But that ball was not stopping and it carried and carried and carried. Michael Lorenzen hit a homerun. His first Major League Home Run. When Lorenzen stepped on home plate, he looked up and pointed to the sky. He gave his Dad the best gift and tribute ever. And at that point everything was real. During one of the most emotional times of his life, he stepped into the box and hit his first Major League home run. As he was rounding the bases he kept his emotions in check. He was congratulated by all his teammates and he still kept his emotions in check. He didn’t want to cry. That was until he saw his best friend on the team, Ramon Cabrera. Cabrera and Lorenzen spent a lot of time together through time in the minor leagues and major leagues. They built a pure and fun friendship. They were best buds. Cabrera was the last one to congratulate Lorenzen. When Lorenzen saw Cabrera at the end of the dugout he sprinted over, let his emotions out and gave him the biggest hug in the world. It wasn’t just one of those normal hugs, it was a type of hug where you let everything out. That’s exactly what Lorenzen did. When he saw and hugged Cabrera, he let everything out, all of his emotions he let out and shared with his best friend.
Lorenzen gave a curtain call to the 28,184 people cheering, standing and calling his name. He stood outside the dugout, waved to the fans, thanked them, pointed to the sky and returned to the dugout. Brandon Phillips, star second baseman and the face of the franchise, said after the game, “His father was with him the whole time, he was out there. He felt it. I felt it with him.” Manager Bryan Pryce said, “I never thought I would see something like that, as majestic and poetic and emotional as that moment.” Michael Lorenzen pitched the next inning and it was a perfect inning. Lorenzen was pulled from the game after that. His work was done. And on one of the most emotional moments in Baseball history, Michael Lorenzen delivered. It was in fact, majestic, poetic and emotional. Lorenzen said after the game, “Definitely everything happens for a reason, it’s something special for not only me but for my family.”
Michael Lorenzen's homerun will go down as one of the most emotional plays and moments in not only baseball history but in Sports history. It was that special. It was spine-chilling, it was heartbreaking, it was magical. And that’s why Sports are the best. Because on any given night, Sports can take over life, it can relieve stress, it can solve problems, it can let you be free, even if it’s only for a little while. Every time I stepped onto the field, any field I was playing on, I felt something different. I felt an emotion that is indescribable. It's special. And like Michael Lorenzen, on any given night in sports? Ordinary people can do extraordinary things.
