Letter to Me: Derek Orndorff Part 2

Derek tells his story through college baseball, the transfer portal and more.

This is the first edition of our “Letter to Me” series, where we have former college and professional athletes write letters about their own stories and pathways that help to enlighten the next generation of athletes and offer perspective to parents and coaches as well.

Derek’s story is enlightening, and I had the pleasure of watching him transform himself first hand.

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Upon entering the transfer portal, it was none other than Seton Hill that was the first school to reach out and offer me a chance to play.  The school that I had turned down 3 years prior, giving me a second chance to live out my dream of playing college baseball.  Again, a no-brainer.  I decided that Seton Hill was the place I would choose to spend the remainder of my college career, or so I thought.

My two years at Seton Hill were two of the best years of my life, on and off the field.  It was during that time that I continued to find and grow friendships and relationships with teammates, coaches, and friends.  I quickly learned that despite the difference in the “division” of college baseball, DII guys can play ball.  The lessons and virtues I learned from coaches and teammates at Seton Hill stick with me to this day.  Those that know anything about Seton Hill baseball know that there is no question why the program has been successful year in and year out – leadership.  Coach Marizzaldi is a man that I owe so much to.  He not only gave me a second chance, but he continually pours into his players and molds college guys into men.  He’s the coach that you would run through a wall for repeatedly.  He is the epitome of true leadership, and shows what it means to be fearless, uncommon, energy-giving, and selfless. 

Despite having the 2020 season canceled due to the pandemic, I fortunately was able to find a way to continue to develop and work on my craft.  One of my best friends and teammates that I played with at Seton Hill (and eventual groomsmen), Patrick Monteverde, referred me to a training facility in Ohio that he believed I could greatly benefit from.  The decision to train at PPA Ohio in the summer of 2020 changed my career.  For the first time in my life, I now had a hitting coach – Tyler Mitchell.  Working with him that summer and for the remainder of my career was truly a Godsend.  He took an average, mediocre baseball player and help transform me into a hitter that I never thought I could become.  He saw more in me than I ever saw in myself and helped me maximize my potential. 

Going into my senior year at Seton Hill, I felt more prepared than I ever had before.  We had incredible team chemistry and believed that we could accomplish something special as a group.  As the season unfolded, we found ourselves winning a regional and heading to the Division II College World Series.  It was an extremely special season, with a very special group of people.  It’s the people.  It’s always the people in your life.  The relationships and friendships mean more than any win, loss, or draw. Following that special 2021 season with the Griffins, I again found myself in another summer off season, this time back at PPA, but with no idea what’s next for my career. 

With hopes, dreams, and aspirations to still play professional baseball, I thought that maybe there could still be a chance to get that opportunity.  In graduating from Seton Hill that summer and having been given another year of eligibility from the canceled 2020 season, I would need to make yet another career decision.  As Seton Hill unfortunately didn’t offer a graduate program that would fit my needs, I had to begin looking into graduate transferring to play my final year.  Having been through the recruiting process twice before, I knew what I was looking for in a program - somewhere that I could not only just play baseball, but also somewhere where I could grow, serve those around me, and prepare myself for the next chapter of my life.  For me to eventually find that program, it took a phone call from a teammate and mentor of mine at Penn State, Ryan Sloniger.  Again, it’s the people and the relationships that you build. 

That summer while I was training in Ohio, Ryan made a call to Coach Scott Jackson, the head coach at Liberty University.  By the grace of God, Coach Jackson saw enough video of me that he liked to begin recruiting me – recruiting me to play for the school that I had dreamed of playing for since the age of 15.  The school that my father had committed to play for when he was in high school.  Only God could write a script like that.  It didn’t take long for me to give Coach Jackson my commitment to play for him and compete for the Flames. 

Reflecting on my playing time at Liberty, it can all simply be summed up as a dream come true.  Playing for yet another incredible coach that exemplified leadership, selflessness, and love on a daily basis was a daily breath of fresh air.  From my coaches to my teammates, to the SportsCenter plays and all the homeruns and ‘success’, I was blessed beyond measure to play for such an incredible program and represent Liberty University.  It was truly a gift from God, and was so much better than I could have ever imagined.  Through it all, I learned that dreams delayed are not dreams denied.  There may be things in your life that you personally want right now, but God has bigger and better plans in store.  If I would have gotten the opportunity to play at LU out of high school, I truly don’t believe I would have been able to appreciate it as much as I did.

Just as God had previously closed doors to lead me to something better, the same was true going into the 2022 MLB Draft.  I was hopeful beyond measure that after all that I had gone through, all that I endured, learned, and grown from, that I would get the opportunity to play professional baseball – a lifelong dream.  As the draft came and went, I did not hear my name called or get that opportunity.  I did, however, learn that sometimes our dreams and our desires can be different.  I had dreamed of playing professional baseball.  I also desired to help others along the way, to learn and to grow in every situation.  When we give our desires to the Lord, He will fulfill them in His timing, and in His ways. 

Thankfully He did just that for me.  Although I was unable to fulfill my dream of playing professional baseball, I am able to fulfill my desire of helping others, learning, and growing every single day. 

I currently serve as a graduate assistant with Liberty’s baseball team with our strength and conditioning coach.  Though my days of playing are done, I’m able to begin my professional career in a way that I could never have imagined unfolding.  I find my passion for helping and serving players grow each day, striving to be the coach and person to them that I needed at many points in my career.  My mission is to serve, support, and guide athletes by sacrificing my time and effort to equip them with the necessary tools to be successful in every facet of life.

I believe I am blessed to have the opportunity to do that every day only because of the grace and goodness of God.  He led me and guided me through the highs and lows of my career, to three different schools in an uncharacteristic way.  Through it all, He was shaping me, molding me, and building me to be who I am today, where I am today. 

My experiences taught me several things...  Through God and your faith in Him, nothing is impossible.  Relationships and friendships mean more than any performance, game, win, or loss.  Baseball [your job] isn’t who you are, it’s what you do.  Failure doesn’t exist, quitting does.  You don’t lose, you learn.  You may not always be responsible, but you are always response-able.  Discipline goes further than motivation.  Respect isn’t given, it’s earned.  Lead by example.  People don’t care about how much you know until they know how much you care.  You’re never as bad, or as good as you think you are.  You’re one step away from discovering something life changing.  You always have the opportunity to impact someone’s life.  It’s never about the outcome or the destination, but rather the day-by-day passion and desire to learn, grow, and be better than you were yesterday. I call it:

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  𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐉𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐘...