THE 'GRINDER': Biscuits' Whalen making most of opportunities

Biscuits utility man Seaver Whalen has made the most of his opportunities, turning them into a chance to fulfill a dream of playing pro baseball like others in his family. (Graham Dunn)

By GRAHAM DUNN

Montgomery Biscuits utility player Seaver Whalen considers himself a “grinder.”

It was the exact word he used to describe how he got to this point of his career, which has seen plenty of ups and downs, almost to the point of not playing the game he loves any more.

Biscuits manager Morgan Ensberg considered the term ideal for Whalen.

“(He is a) 100-percent grinder,” Ensberg said, “a guy who is going to battle and keep throwing punches. He’s not going to quit. That’s the characteristics of what a grinder is and he fits it perfectly.”

A 32nd-round selection in the 2017 draft, Whalen has overcome plenty of roadblocks. But his perspective on what matters keeps him balanced.

 “I’m a believer in the Lord so that helps me with all the outside factors of baseball and other problems,” Whalen explains. “Not hanging my hat on what I do… I know my identity is in Him and that’s important. I know (my results in baseball) are not who I am. This is a game of failure that you have to watch how you approach it.

“I love to play but I know I can’t go out there and let every at-bat affect me.”

It’s doubtful anybody has more passion to play baseball, but Whalen, who has worked his way up the chain to Double-A the last couple of seasons, is not backing down from his goal.

Whalen grew up in a baseball family with his dad, Shawn, playing professionally a few years before becoming a scout for the Milwaukee Brewers. His oldest brother Caleb spent time in the Brewers minor league system while the youngest of the three, Brady, is currently playing High-A ball in Peoria (Cardinals). 

The Whalen boys were given the opportunity to play any sport they chose. Dad’s career would not have an influence on what they picked – or at least that’s how it was set up.

“I remember my dad sat us in a gym,” Whalen explained. “He said ‘I don’t care what sport you pick but whatever you pick we are going to go after it whole heartily.’ He said he’d do whatever he could to help us.”

The choice was easy. Whalen grew up playing baseball in the back yard. Growing up, he watched his brother play. He knew it was what he wanted almost immediately when his dad posed the question.

“I love football but it never felt like it did when I played baseball… watching my brother, playing pickle in the back yard, or whiffle ball… that was more me,” he said.

While the goal was to earn a college degree, it was also a dream to make it in professional baseball.

So far, so good. 

“He grew us (by) coaching,” Whalen said of his father. “He was gone during the season. That’s the way it was while I was playing high school ball. I knew how busy he was. I wish he had seen me more. But that was part of the game.

“He helped me realize how hard this game is, but to get this opportunity is really special.”

Whalen’s chance to play pro ball could have been altered after he bounced around three different colleges before landing at NAIA power Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. 

He began his college career at Santa Clara but, in his words, had some personal trouble and transferred. After a year at Lower Columbia Community College, he moved on to Loyola Marymount but Whalen admitted he wasn’t a good fit at the Jesuit college.

“I hit rock bottom, made a bunch of mistakes,” Whalen admitted. “But I got back up, got back on the horse. I made up my mind to grind and keep moving toward my goals.”

That led him to L-C State, or as Whalen put it, “Last Chance State,” where discipline on the diamond was a must, particularly considering the history of national championships the program had won.

He would be a part of the program’s third consecutive national title, won against local baseball power Faulkner in 2017.

 “I wouldn’t be here without L-C State,” he stated. “The program gives you perspective on working hard. If you don’t bring energy and effort they are on your case. Bringing that into pro ball, that and having the Lord in my life brings that together. It helps me see this isn’t that hard. It’s not that much of a grind.”

Tampa Bay would pick Whalen and move him up each season before Ensberg personally asked that he be assigned to the Biscuits this year.

“He is everything we want in a player,” Ensberg explained. “You look at the organization, he was one I specifically asked for. I think he is a great human being. He is an incredible teammate. He is an intense competitor. He works very hard at all times. You want a guy like that on your team.”

As for his first name, yes, it came from Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver, who spent the majority of his 20-year career with the New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds, winning 311 games and three Cy Young awards.
“I was supposed to be called O’Brien, which is way more Irish,” Whalen explained. “I’m not a historian. I know he was a Hall of Fame pitcher. I’m honored to have his name.”

How far Whalen goes in the professional ranks will depend on several factors, but Ensberg believes he has the right approach to the game and that’s half the battle. He pointed to Whalen’s first home run at Riverwalk Stadium in the home opener against Chattanooga.  It was against fireballer Hunter Greene, whose fastball rarely drops below 100 miles per hour. 

“(Rating his rise to the big leagues,) that’s difficult to answer what he needs because the scale is always moving to reach the next level,” Ensberg said. “I would say if he continues to work on his pitch identification and once he’s able to hit the pitch in the area he is looking for, he will be a dangerous hitter. 

“And that was a remarkable home run against an elite big league arm.  It tells you a lot about Whalen’s talent.”