By Gavin Staindl
THE boy who was teased for playing a girly sport is now the New York Yankees most recent recruit.
Adam Silva, 16, often cops it from mates about his passion for baseball, but Silva is certainly enjoying the last laugh after signing a seven-year contract with major league baseball franchise, the New York Yankees last week.
The Berwick Cougar representative has agreed to terms that will see him remain in Australia until the completion of his Year 12 in 2011 before shifting to America in 2012.
“It hasn’t really sunk in… but it is a little overwhelming,” Silva said.
The official signing wasn’t an extravagant moment for Silva, instead the agreement process took many months and many more phone calls, but the big hitter from Narre Warren does remember receiving a birthday letter in the mail that began the dream of playing in the Big Apple.
“I was sent a letter on behalf of the Yankees on my 16th birthday saying we hope to see you in a pin- stripe uniform and that was a bit of an eye opener,” Silva said.
“It was good feeling and really it was the first time I thought, I might have a chance at signing with them,” he said.
Silva’s journey to the most successful baseball club in the world began five years earlier when two mates from school convinced the raw Silva to join them at the Berwick City Cougars under-12 team.
After six months of ball, Silva found himself in Japan representing Australia at the under-12 rubber ball friendship series.
From there, Silva began moving up the ranks, representing Victoria on a yearly basis and taking out batting averages and MVPs along the way.
Before long, Silva was in Queensland, working out of the Major League Baseball Academy and at 15 he was the second youngest inductee from a field of 70.
The following year, Silva became only one of seven out of the academy to be signed by a Major League Club.
Despite his natural ability, it was Silva’s work ethic that proved the game winner for Yankees scout John Wadsworth to offer Silva the contract.
“I work hard,” Silva said. “If someone puts a challenge in front of me, I do the best I can and I keep going until it’s done.
And Adam’s dad, Richard, agrees.
“He practises for ages, if something is not feeling right, like his swing or his step, he’ll go down to the cages and work on it for ages,” Richard said.
“Once your down, it’s how you get out, and that is his quality.
“He can adjust. If he’s doing something wrong, or something is not working for him, he’ll make changes and continually makes changes until he figures it out and that is the quality that’s getting him over the line,” he said.
With a scheduled trip to Yankee Stadium in April next year, Silva now has another challenge on his hands – what to say to idols Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter.
“I have no idea what I’ll say,” Silva said with a laugh “’how ya going’ I guess.”
Silva’s Berwick Cougars also fell victim to the heavy rainfall that stifled play across the state.
With the ground under water, Cougars’ officials made the call to cancel both junior and senior baseball scheduled at Cyril Molyneux Reserve.
Right: Narre Warren’s Adam Silva has signed a contract with baseball’s most famous club, the New YorkYankees. 55870
Picture: Kim Cartmell
