Shull gets offseason break, heads to spring training in February

While the Mt. Pleasant basketball teams have been on break, Mt. Pleasant graduate Braden Shull has also been on an athletic break.

Shull was drafted by the Philadelphia Philles? Major League baseball team, and agreed to join the organization in August. He moved to Clearwater, Fla., to play the end of the season with the Gulf Coast Phillies before playing in the fall instructional league.

He came home after that season ended in mid-October.

But that doesn?t mean he?s been sitting around. During the offseason, he?s working out six days a week, taking only Sunday off, to get into spring training shape.

?Our coaches told us, if you think you?re in shape, you?re still not even close,? Shull said.

Spring training starts in late February and Shull will head back down to Clearwater earlier that month.

He looks forward to going back after enjoying his fall season.

?It was great, but it?s a learning process for sure,? he said. ?I?m getting used to the professional game. My favorite part was getting to play baseball for about 10 hours a day. I?ve dreamed of that, and now I?m living it.?

Though he enjoyed it, it wasn?t easy.

?It was definitely harder than I thought,? he said. ?The hitters are a lot smarter. You can?t fool the hitters, and if you can, they just adjust. It definitely transitioned from a physical to a mental game.?

Shull had to make a few adjustments himself.

?The toughest part is ? the constant activity,? Shull said. ?I had to get used to that, and I had to get used to the humidity while running down there.?

The whole atmosphere was a big change for the pitcher, who was on his own for the first time.

?It was difficult at first (to be away from home),? he said. ?But I got used to it fast. There?s a good support system down there.?

It also helps to have family in the area. On the weekend, Shull would often visit his grandma who lives in the Tampa area.

?It was nice to get away and relax,? he said.