Across the United States, scruffy little kids in dirt-dry or grass-green ballparks from The Bronx to Kansas City, pitch, hit, run, catch, and throw in bright hardware store or restaurant-sponsored team shirts. They play because baseball is fun and they enjoy playing with their friends.

For some however, baseball is more than just an after-school activity or spring little league. Early on, they realize that with focus, hard work, discipline, and complete dedication to the game, these traits can be their ticket to the big leagues. Making it to the Major Leagues epitomizes the American dream, and some of these little boys actually make their dreams come true.

“I think every kid wants to play baseball,” said Donnie Webb, a right fielder with the Columbus Clippers – the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. “As a kid growing up, you always want to play pro baseball someday.”
 
Webb, along with seven other teammates who formed part of the powerhouse 2008 Oklahoma State University (OSU) Cowboys team that finished 44-18 for the season and clinched an invitation to the NCAA tournament, got drafted. He started his pro baseball career at the Cleveland Indians Class A affiliate, Lake County Captains, right after his junior year at OSU.

But the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Webb, got called up near the end of the 2009 regular season to lend a much-needed hand to a badly bruised Clippers team.
 
“I got called up from Lake County. I didn't think I was going to be skipped,” said Webb, who in 122 games and 471 at bats with the Captains averaged .289 at the plate. He scored 69 runs and had 136 hits, 7 home runs, and 57 RBI before his skip over the Double-A system to the Clippers. “It’s a great experience. I just go out there, have fun and keep doing what I've been doing all season.”

The native of Stillwater, Oklahoma did exactly that – he kept doing what he did for the Captains. With the Clippers, he contributed 3 runs, 11 hits, and 6 RBI for an average of .367, in his seven games and 30 at bats. Despite Webb's solid numbers, the Clippers finished their season 57-85.

“The Indians are in transition, they have a lot of young talent in the minor league system, and Donnie has established himself,” said Webb’s agent Matt Cafrelli of Longsnap Sports. “His work ethic and his desire show that he wants to win at any level.”

Cafrelli, who uses MLB.com to follow players stats and social media to reach out to them, works along side attorney Kevin Gold, who originally reached out to Webb. Since the duo began to represent Webb, Cafrelli maintains day-to-day contact with Webb.

Now the most important news shared between the two has to do with Webb’s winter training schedule since the April, Arizona heat – the Cleveland Indians’ Spring training camp is in Goodyear, Arizona – is right around the corner.

“Spring training is extremely important especially for the young guys,” Cafrelli said. “The Major League clubs want to see how much they’ve worked on their own. If you come to the camp and you are overweight, they’ll think that this is not important you.”

Neither Cafrelli nor the Indians organization have anything to worry about with Webb. The 23-year-old has met up with his OSU baseball buddies from the Phillies and Yankees organizations, and they train together at the OSU athletic facilities. Webb reports that he lifts, runs, and goes to batting practice with OSU head coach Frank Anderson's team.

“We are not sure where he is going to end up, but we hope that they keep him at the Triple-A level, though they can move him to Double-A or single,” said Cafrelli. “The important thing is not what level he plays at, but what he develops into.”

After his taste of Triple-A – where the caliber of play reflects the experience and strength of players, many who move between the Minors and Majors – and the short stint at Huntington Park (the Clippers' new stadium), Webb may want to stay a little longer. However, the modest switch hitter said he just wants to “open some eyes” to what he can do.

“I have no idea where I'll start up at,” he said. “Wherever I go, I hope I can contribute greatly and be a leader.”

Cafrelli said that he tries to help Webb concentrate on the game, while he handles his client's business affairs. He explained that first round picks get to negotiate their salaries, but not all players have that chance. The Indians drafted Webb in the 10th round.

"A lot of people see these 'Strasburgs,'" said Cafrelli, referring to first-round players who receive large multi-million dollar deals and signing bonuses. Stephen Strasburg was the number one pick in the 2009 MLB Draft who signed a four-year, $15.1 million deal with a $7.5 million signing bonus. A typical senior draftee, according to Cafrelli, gets a $4,500 signing bonus. "We see these first-round picks that are negotiating their salaries, but not all are like that." 

"One of my clients in the Penn League gets $30 a day and $20 for food," he continued. "Donnie is getting an off-season job so that he can save money."

So far, the Indians organization has been good to Webb, he said, so much so that they’ve replaced his original favorite team – the Boston Red Sox. Part of the change had to do with the welcoming and help he’s received from fellow players, who’ve all been in his shoes, literally.

“My cleats were worn out and one of the guys gave me his cleats,” said Webb, whose parents both work at OSU, and support his 19-year-old sister. “I was running low on money and you know how [in] minor league ball you don’t get paid a lot of money.”

When not working on his game and not working to support himself, Webb does find some time for himself and his friends.

“I play a lot of golf,” said the iPhone-carrying member of Generation Y. “It takes your mind off other things.”

Make no mistake however, Webb understands that the level of play in Triple-A will benefit his overall development as a player. He said he observed the older players, compared his swing to theirs, watched what they did on the baseboard, and adapted his routine.

“It’s [the] little things that you might be doing wrong,” he said. “If you change one thing, it could change a lot.”

He’s noticed how many things are better: the pitching, the speed, the hitting, even the umpiring.

“When you are that close to the big leagues, it has to be that good,” said Webb, who seemed to adapt well to the approximately 130 game schedule in the minors from the 60 or so college games. “Anyone in Triple-A can most likely play in the big leagues. It’s legit up there.”

And for kids with big dreams like Webb, the big leagues are where they want to be.

“My goal is to make it into the big leagues and stay there for awhile,” he said. “Make a career out of it.” 

On behalf of Access Athletes, we would like to thank Donnie Webb for taking time out of his busy schedule to do an interview with The Real Athlete Blog.