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Jarrod Dyson with SW Baseball Team
Kansas City Royals' Jarrod Dyson (center, kneeling) with the Southwest Bears baseball team

Baseball Michael D. Gunnell, Southwest Sports Information

Kansas City Royals' Jarrod Dyson returns home to Southwest

For thousands of those who love and play the game of baseball, it is the dream of a lifetime to be able to play on the biggest baseball stage of them all-the World Series.
 
For former Southwest baseball standout Jarrod Dyson, that dream became a reality this past October when his Kansas City Royals took on the San Francisco Giants in a seven-game thriller. The World Series appearance capped a dream season for the Royals, making their first post-season appearance in 29 years.
 
Dyson, a graduate of McComb High School, played for the Bears in 2004-06 under former head coach Butch Holmes and was a teammate of current Southwest assistant Justin Hay. He was selected by the Royals in the 50th round of the 2006 player draft.
 
Recently, Dyson stopped by the Southwest campus to visit with the current Southwest Bears. While on campus, he took time for a brief question and answer session and spoke about the 2014 season and his time as a member of the Southwest Bears.
 
Q-Describe what it was like being a part of the 2014 Royals?
Dyson-It's kind of hard to put into words, but it was an unbelievable year. I've never experienced anything like that in my life and a lot of my teammates (also) had zero experience. We just went out and played together as a unit. We started off kind of bad for the first half (of the season).
 
We had a meeting (early in the second half) and told each other 'we're going to try to be the best baseball team (the rest of the season) and see what we can do and we ended up going on a 10-0 run and moved into first place (in the American League's Central Division and ended up as one of the League's wildcard teams) and just kept going and believed in ourselves for the most part. We had a great bullpen, great defense and pitching and speed that took us over the top. We got key hits when we needed them. Overall, we relied on our pitching and defense.
 
Q-Compare the 2014 season to your 2006 season at Southwest in which the Bears made it up to a #3 ranking in the nation.
Dyson-It was about the same. The only difference is 2014 was on a bigger stage. When I was at Southwest, we had a lot of fun because several of us came from McComb High School together and played against a few of the (other) guys (on the team).
 
For the most part, we stuck together as a team and we believed in one another and we went out there and got the job done no matter what anybody said about us. We just had good team chemistry.
 
Q-When did it finally sink in that you, a guy from small-town Mississippi, was in the World Series, the biggest stage in professional baseball?
Dyson-Game seven. It was like we were living a fairy tale, like we were on a high. I think everybody was shocked that we were there, but we weren't shocked as a team because we knew we had enough talent to go out there and get the job done. Like I said, it's all about believing in one another.
 
When you've got the right group of guys together, anything can happen if you put forth the work ethic to accomplish something special. Unfortunately, we didn't get the (championship) ring, but we made a statement and we're looking forward to doing it again (in 2015).
 
Q-Other than making it to the World Series, what was another personal highlight of 2014?
Dyson-Stealing third base in the wild-card game (against the Oakland A's). That was one of the biggest moments of my life because it was like do or die for me. I was standing on second base thinking I've got to get to third, but if I get thrown out I better be on a plane coming back to Mississippi. But, if I make it there, I'm a hero in that town (Kansas City). I ended up making it and we tied the game and eventually won it.
 
I think that (game) kind of killed all the fear we had in us. It was kind of a confidence booster because we won after being down 7-3, facing a guy who had beat us three times already in one year (Oakland ace Jon Lester). He's one of the greatest pitchers ever in the post-season.
 
Q-What have you been doing during the off-season and how long will you be in McComb?
Dyson-I won't be here too much longer. I've already been here for two months. I've had a short off-season due to use being in the World Series. When I come home, sometimes I just like to rest. I feel like I do so much during the season that I like to rest and have some 'me' time.
 
I try to get out into the community and do a few things for the community and try to help out and inspire others to do great things with their lives and follow their dreams. Giving back is something I like to do every year I come home, helping with a toy drive or donating something. That helps me feel good inside.
 
Q-When will you report to spring training and where is the Royals' training camp located?
Dyson-Spring training is held in Surprise, Arizona. We share a stadium with the Texas Rangers. Reporting day is February 20 so I don't have to be there for about another month, but I like to get out there early.
 
I normally get out of here in the first part of January and get my body back used to doing the things that I'm going to be doing during March up until game time.
 
Q-How did playing at Southwest help you prepare for your career as a major league baseball player?
Dyson-It's the mentality part. When we came to Southwest, people didn't expect us to do anything. So, my mind-set had to immediately change to 'it ain't where you go, it's what you do when you get there.' That's what I live on and to be here and be with my teammates was pretty special so I wasn't here alone.
 
I had Justin (Hay and his brother) Matthew, Jessie Boyd, Pat Barnes, Michael Lewis-the list can go on. I had those guys and we've always been close and played together and had fun together on and off the field. So, it was like one big family I was playing with and that helped me grow because they believed in me. Whoever made it, we were going to believe in that guy, no matter who it was.
 
The Royals are scheduled to open the regular season on April 6 against the Chicago White Sox.
 
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