Former Coyote baseball player reminiscences

By Gregory Gammill |Staff Writer|

Ethan Chapman spent his entire academic and collegiate baseball career at CSUSB from 2009-2012.

The Kansas City Royals selected him in the 30th round of the Major League Baseball (MLB) June Amateur Draft and assigned him to their minor league system to start out in. 

He played center field and batted a .330 average in his final season played with the Coyote baseball team.

He gained several career accolades and records that would solidify him among one of the best to ever lace up on the diamond for the Coyotes.

His accolades and awards included 1st-team All-CCAA and 2nd-team ABCA/Rawlings All-West Region. He also set the Coyote record for triples and runs scored and tied the school record with 14 home runs.

The Coyote Chronicle was granted the very rare opportunity to interview our former alumnus Chapman.

The Coyote Chronicle tracked him down and was privileged enough to ask him a few questions on his draft status, Coyote baseball, playing time and how our schools’ team prepared him for his future endeavors.

“The day I was drafted was very stressful, but also exciting. Getting drafted was a dream come true. Not a lot of players get to experience that and it was such a blessing to share that moment with my family and friends,” said Chapman.

His time on the CSUSB baseball team, Chapman shared that, “my team at Cal State was a brotherhood. More than half the men at my wedding played ball at Cal State. Made a lot of close bonds there that have continued throughout my pro career.”

Chapman continued to be the rising star on the Coyotes baseball team and played in countless games over his college career. The Coyote Chronicle wanted to know what it was like during his first stint in baseball past the collegiate level.

“My first start in the minor[s] was nerve racking. I wanted to do the best I could and leave an impression. I knew I had so many people supporting me back home, but I knew at the end of the day, my closest friends had my best interests at hand.”

The Coyote Chronicle final question for Chapman was how the CSUSB experience prepared him for his future endeavors.

“Being at Cal State, I experienced ups and downs and learned for the first time in my life how to struggle…only the mentally tough can succeed…in college I had to compete against top of the line players and it really prepared me for pro ball,” said Chapman.

CSUSB could not be more proud of our former alumnus’ progressions into what we collectively call “the real world.”

His relentless work ethic on and off the field is what each and every student should strive for inside and outside the classroom.