What is life if not a series of crossroads, each path filled with choices and opportunities?
Often, our decisions define not just the course of our days but also the trajectory of our lives.
While some are easy to make, like choosing what to wear today or what movie to watch, some choices stand taller, holding the weight of our dreams and aspirations.
One such choice confronted Aidan Curry, a name now synonymous with determination and talent in baseball.
At 17 years old, Aidan had to decide: "Should I continue my journey in college baseball or jump directly into the uncertain yet exciting professional baseball?"
A decision that would be daunting for everyone, let alone a teenager. It was more than just about a sport; it was about his future, dreams, and the path he wanted to build for himself.
In a bold move that proved his confidence and passion for the game, Aidan signed with the Rangers, opening the door to professional baseball and securing his college education financially.
However, as we often discover, the path to success is rarely a straight line. For Aidan, this was just the beginning of a story filled with setbacks, triumphs, and life lessons.
If there is one word we could use to describe Aidan's journey, that is RESILIENCE.
His standout performance at the Perfect Game Jupiter tournament put Aidan on the radar of several scout teams.
However, the arrival of COVID-19 turned things upside down.
Faced with the critical choice between pursuing college baseball or a professional career, at 17, he decided to chase his dream, signing with Texas Rangers and venturing into a journey that would test his guts in ways he never imagined.
“Once the professional thing started to become more relevant and more of a reality, it was more, Do I chase my dream, or do I go to college and try to get a degree or get close to a degree and then go back and finish? And for me, it was more, I'm gonna chase my dream because if, let's say, I get hurt, I might never get that opportunity again.”
“It was uncharted territory, just complete darkness. Like, I don't know what's going on. I didn't have friends in pro ball. I don't even know what to say to the GM after getting a free agent call. So, going into it, it was just, I'll figure it out eventually. It's just gonna take some time to get my feet wet and build from there and figure out the ins and outs of the facilities and the people and how the dynamic works in practice and games.”
Remember, all of this at 17 years old.
Entering the professional league, Aidan discovered a world completely different from high school baseball.
As a tall, skinny youngster, he felt like an outsider among more physically imposing peers.
His average initial fastball? Around 86.5 mph. That was nothing compared to the pros. However, scouts saw potential in Aidan, and he was determined to show what he was made of.
What do you think sports professionals were busy with during the lockout period?
Chilling out, getting a tan, putting on some weight from all those barbecues?
Some of them, probably yes. But not Aidan.
Lockout became a turning point in his development, allowing him to refine his skills.
“I think that even those 60 days were one of the best decisions that I made as a baseball player and trying to develop because I put myself in a room full of guys who were way better than me in terms of physical, in terms of pitching, and all this other stuff. And at the place that I was at, I was the guy there because I signed, so it was like, OK, yeah, I'm the best. But I almost needed to be humbled. Not that I was arrogant by any means, but I'd say being around that kind of culture definitely helped me progress a lot quicker, light the fire, and get things moving.”
Adopting a "less is more" approach, Aidan had a remarkable breakthrough by throwing a pulldown at 104.7 miles per hour.
It was a record for Aidan and a key moment in boosting his confidence.
That's when he realized the importance of harnessing physical skills and transforming raw potential into high-level performance.
Life is not a straight line; we already know that.
Challenges are a natural part of the process of reaching success. But every setback or misstep is a chance to grow.
When Aidan embraced a mindset where he reframed failure as a learning opportunity, the results were not long in coming.
“If I had to give people advice, the quicker you can learn to flush, reset, and keep the wavelength of where your mindset is almost neutral because it's impossible to keep it dead flat, or else it might not have a pulse if you're doing that. But the lower you can keep it, and the more flathead you can have it, the better off you'll be.”
If you want to learn more about every step of Aidan's journey, listen to the full episode of VeloUnlocked w/ Dr. Nick Serio.
