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Keeping The Dream Alive

June 21, 2013 - United League Baseball (ULB)
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings News Release


FORT WORTH, Texas- The Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings starting right fielder Aaron Gates was bought out by the New York Yankees. "This is a dream come true for me ever since I was a kid" Gates leaves for Rome, Georgia where he will meet his new club the Charleston, Riverdogs.

Gates was drafted as a pitcher by the Colorado Rockies in 2008 but Gates passed on the opportunity and decided to attend Pepperdine University.

Gates then pitched at Pepperdine from 2009 to 2011 where he finished with a 9-15 record and a 4.62 ERA.

"Hitting was always my thing" said Gates; he finished with a .280 batting average while at Pepperdine. When it came time for his senior year he asked for less pitching and more hitting, his head coach did not agree this forced Gates to make a decision, he chose to leave Pepperdine and finish his collegiate career at Concordia University.

Baseball wasn't always in Gates plans after college he began to wonder is baseball for me? "I started to consider the real world" for six months Gates did not pick up a ball or a bat he then realized that the dream is still very much alive.

"My goal was to play pro ball, that's why I'm here" Just at the age of 23 Gates has overcome plenty of hardships, he won an MVP award in the Pacific Internal League in 2012 and still wasn't given an opportunity.

Then Gates found the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings, he joined the club and made the team. His dream had come true he was a part of a professional ball club. What's interesting on Gates is he batted in the ninth hole for the first series versus San Angelo, Gates found himself batting third in the order and smashing the baseball. Gates stormed onto the scene leading the United League in RBI's and with the second highest batting average only behind teammate Albert Carpen.

Gates finished with a .379 batting average that was third in the league, fourth in homeruns with four and eighth in RBI's with 21 on the year. He lead his team with 21 RBI's and second on the team in hits with 39 only trailing Carpen by three hits. He also finished with 13 multiple hit games.

Gates a California native will continue to pursue his dream and it will begin as he joins the New York Yankees affiliated system, he will call Charleston, South Carolina his new home where the Riverdogs await his arrival.



United League Baseball Stories from June 21, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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