R.I.P. Nick Adenhart

The kid in red looked sharp last night. Cool. Calm with runners on... wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sharp-cornered red hat. Six scoreless innings of 6 hit ball, a 22 year old rookie reducing Major League hitters to groundouts and wiffs. He strolled off the mound and into the dugout with the quiet air of a guy who'd almost earned it. His cockiness was well contained, as if he knew his best days were still ahead of him.

This morning I find it incredible to think that talent is gone; taken swiftly by the force of a drunk driver. Rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed last night in Fullerton, a few short hours after his professional career saw its brightest moment. 20+ years of practice... a lifetime of commitment: little league, playing catch with his dad, high school 2-a-days in summer, 3 minor league seasons and a very real promise of greatness... all taken away.

Being ranked the #35 prospect in pro baseball is no small accomplishment. Choosing a minor league career over a full ride to the University of North Carolina, Nick had seen his destiny and chased it at full speed. He improved quickly, and after an elbow surgery at 18 years old, he started making some waves in the Angels organization. Nick dominated AAA in 2008, and got a couple of shaky starts in the big leagues. At 22, this was going to be his year. The Angels suffered some key injuries in the rotation, and Nick was given the chance to prove himself. He did that and more last night, going 6 scoreless innings for Anaheim and striking out 5 Oakland batters. He looked sharp. He looked every ounce a big league pitcher.

Last night his talent bugged me. In fact, the thought of him mowing down A's hitters for the next 5 years scared me. I never thought I'd sincerely mourn the loss of a rival, but a tragedy like this puts things into perspective. It's just baseball. A game. For Nick Adenhart, however, it was more. It was his life--in a way most of us will never know. To be so good at something, so much better than the millions and millions of others who try, that he reached the very top--is truly remarkable, and the kind of achievement that most can only imagine. Nick Adenhart got to feel that, if only for one night.