Andrew Means returns home to play

Posted on 04. May, 2010 by Corey in All, Dayton Dragons Baseball, General Baseball.

In professional baseball, and mainly the minor leagues, it is rare for a player to be able to go home during a baseball season. Most teams play a minimum of 140 games in just over five month’s time. So for a player to be able to sleep in his own bed for 10 nights during the season is unheard of. That’s exactly what Dayton Dragons outfielder Andrew Means gets to look forward to this summer, though.

Means is from Avon Lake, Ohio. His hometown is just 35 minutes from Lake County, home to one of the newest teams in the league, the Lake County Captains. Thanks to a lucky schedule, the Dragons are visiting Lake County 10 times this season, giving Means the chance to stay at home with family and friends.

“I am excited to be able to stay at home those days, but most excited to see my dog,” Means said. This will be his first visit to Lake County, as he never attended a game there before.

“I grew up an Indians fan and spent lots of time at Jacobs Field,” Means said. He grew up dreaming about playing professional baseball for the Indians, but now will just be thrilled to make it to the majors with any of the 30 franchises. While some players may feel added pressure playing in front of friends and family, the feeling is nothing new to Means. Playing college baseball and football at Indiana University, he was constantly playing in the Midwest, allowing familiar faces to be in the stands each night.

Means hopes to wreck havoc on his hometown team starting this evening as the Dragons open a three-game stand at Lake County.