First published 1990
Marcus Johnson grips the bat as another fastball screams past him. The minor league stadium lights cast long shadows across the infield dirt where his childhood dreams feel increasingly distant. At nineteen, Marcus believed his natural talent would carry him straight to the majors. Now he faces the brutal truth that raw ability means nothing without discipline, focus, and the willingness to fail repeatedly. His teammates wash out one by one. His girlfriend back home stops returning calls. His father's voice echoes in his head, warning him that baseball was never a real plan. Marcus must choose between the comfortable certainty of giving up and the painful uncertainty of pushing forward. Each game becomes a test not just of his swing or his speed, but of his capacity to endure disappointment and keep believing in himself when no one else does.
Genres: fiction, coming-of-age, contemporary, baseball
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: second-chance, underdog
275 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Berkley