professional athlete

Description

If any current day baseball player has a story that should be made into a Major Motion Picture it is Detroit Tigers Double A Pitcher Will Startup. After a a storied career at Georgia he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves and sent straight to Triple A. While he was on the fast track to the Major's a possible career ending injury to his pitching arm would re direct his career professionally. While his Baseball story is amazing in and of itself his family story is so inspirational that everyone should hear it. While working his way back into his career and pitching in Texas in independent ball his wife Lauren was on the otherside of the country working towards her masters degree. Laurens mom was taking care of their 18 month old son Copeland. One sad day Copeland suffered from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Grandma was able to bring him back to life. While he survived, the next several months, Will and his Wife would live on a couch in a hospital at his bedside. Copeland had to have a pacemaker placed in his chest and had to relearn everything from swallowing to lifting his head. With Mom and Dad with him all the way the little Bulldog made it through and now looks like any 2 and a half year old, who the only thing he loves more than baseball is Mom and Dad. Despite all this family has dealt with they stay together and chase their dreams. After Pitching so well in indepedent pro ball the Tigers offered Will one more shot and he is certainly making the most of it. He is now one of the best pitchers in the organization and his family is together. He also is known as the man with one of the wildest leg kicks ever seen on the mound. If all is good in the world Will won't be in Erie for long! The next stop just might be in Detroit coming out of the Bullpen to releave Justin Verlander. The next time you are sitting at Jerry Uht Park and number 50 gets called in from the bullpen take a good look and give a standing ovation because this Georgia Bulldog is one professional athlete we could all only pray our kids would grow up to be just like. I was so emotionally blown away when Will's wife Lauren shared their story with me I wanted to do something. All I could do was take a few pictures and now I share them with the world via Facebook and Youtube. This is one story the world should see!