King City kid heading to spring training to play for Chicago White Sox

A shot to play Major League Baseball is rare, but it’s even more rare to meet a player from the Central Coast with that opportunity.

With pitchers and catchers already reporting to spring training, a player from King City will make his first appearance at a major league camp for the Chicago White Sox in just a couple of weeks.

“Pretty excited that all my hard work and all my dedication are finally paying off to get to go to my first spring training,” said Marc Flores, a 6-foot-5-inch first baseman from King City.

He played part of his college career at Hartnell in Salinas.

“This is my home and it will always be my home,” Flores said.

A true Central Coast kid decked out in White Sox swag, at 22 he said he’s ready to prove himself at the major league level.

“Baseball is a sport that you are going to fail at,” he said.

Even legends of the game like Babe Ruth, and Willie Mays failed seven times out of 10 at the plate and still hit better than .300 for their careers.

“When you fail, it’s only going to make you a better player,” Flores said.

“He’s always been very coachable,” said Ralph Flores, Marc Flores’ father.

Whether it’s hitting grounders or throwing batting practice, Ralph Flores has always been a coach and a father to Marc Flores. Ralph Flores said he wants his son to remember one thing at spring training.

“If something doesn’t go well, oh well, you are always going to get another at bat,” Ralph Flores said.

“I’m honored to have a coach at home,” Marc Flores said referring to his father.

Marc Flores said he wants to represent King City and the Central Coast well to attract other scouts to the area and ultimately give other kids the same opportunities he’s had.

“The journey has been long but it’s been really fun and I still have a long journey ahead of me,” he said.

Marc Flores said he hopes to start this season in Single-A.

CLICK HERE to see Marc Flores’ 2014 Arizona League statistics.