Keith Hessler, 27, is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He grew up in Montgomery County, right in Olney and got his start in baseball there. He later attended Springbrook High School where he played varsity baseball for four years.

“Adversity is a big part of baseball. A hitter fails 70 percent of the time and they’re a hall of famer. You may even have a mild injury in the middle of the game.  It’s gonna happen in baseball,” Hessler said, “The nice part about baseball is, in high school, you play 16 games and practice everyday. That’s two games a week. So even if you have that bad day, you can easily move on to the next.”

Hessler played Walter Johnson multiple times in his career.

“I remember there was this road in right field, I’m not sure if they still have it anymore, but it always interfered with the game. There was also this player, he was a catcher, I can’t remember his name, but I have his face. He’d always get a hit off me. It would have been a lot better if I wouldn’t have faced him.”

After high school, Hessler went to Coastal Carolina University. He had to juggle baseball and college for four years.

“It was tough,” Hessler said, “But the school gave us enough resources to help us like tutors, and study hall. The coaches knew you’re a student first, but grades apply into your sport so you can’t just slack off.”

Hessler chose Coastal Carolina rather than a local school like The University of Maryland because he wanted to be away from home and be in the warm weather.

“My showcase coach, his son played at Coastal,” Hessler said, “So I got to meet the coaches early and fell in love with [the program].”

Hessler has played baseball for a long time and has met a lot of coaches and players, although some are more influential than others.

“My high school coach, he was a big influence to me,” Hessler said, “He always believed in me. He’s who got me to keep playing and do the right thing professionally.”

Hessler reached the Majors last year against the Cincinnati Reds. He struck out all-star third baseman Todd Frazier for his first MLB strikeout.

“You know, I never really noticed it,” Hessler said, “I just was going out there doing my job. I never had any nerves when I got out there for my first time ever.”

Hessler can also swing the bat kind of, in his first MLB at bat against Pirates reliever Joe Blanton, Hessler singled, however there’s no video of his first hit.

“I’m glad they don’t have video of it,” Hessler said, “I was batting because it was extra innings, and we ran out of bench players, and running out of pitchers. I just stuck the bat out there and got a hit.”

Hessler has been one of the lucky few to achieve major league status, and one of only seven players from Montgomery County to reach the Majors, like Walter Johnson alum, Keith Gordon, and Magruder alum, Milt Thompson who played in the Majors for 13 years.

“You have to be good at baseball of course, to reach the Majors, but it’s how you are as a person, being a good teammate,” Hessler said, “I’ve seen players with enormous amounts of talent not reach the Majors because they’re not a good teammate, like they did things wrong off the field. Just be a good teammate and be a good person.”

Hessler is on the 40-man roster for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and will start the season in the minors in Reno.  Hessler says he plans to be working in the front office when his career as a player is over.