When Zach Von Rosenberg was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates out of high school in the sixth round of the 2009 MLB draft, his childhood dreams finally came true. He spent one season in rookie ball, four in Low A and one in High A—all in the Pirates’ system—but after six years in the minors, he began to feel like there was an expiration date on those dreams.
“I had been battling injuries, and it just didn’t pan out,” Von Rosenberg says. “A lot of guys battle injuries, and they can fight through it. I just wasn't one of those people. I just wasn’t good enough to play major league. It is what it is. The dream came to an end.”
A torn hamstring, nerve issues in his hand and wrist, recurring shoulder problems and a condition where he lost blood flow to his lower arm all resulted in the end of his baseball career. But after playing sports for 20 years, Von Rosenberg couldn’t walk away that easily.
