Aaron Fossas Keeps Proving Himself, No Matter The Playing Field

It’s not unusual for a minor leaguer to spend his offseason working at a baseball training facility.

What is unusual is that 25-year-old righthander Aaron Fossas is working at a baseball facility in Georgia not as an instructor but as a Web site builder.

“It’s fun for me to be able to make some money in the offseason . . . but also have a refresher on something that’s not physically baseball related,” Fossas said. “I’m able to work my mind in a different way and kind of get that outlet out.”

Fossas is the nephew of former big league lefthander and current Reds pitching coordinator Tony Fossas. He had Tommy John surgery as a senior at Wake Forest and then used his rehab year to earn a master’s degree in business management.

Fossas worked as a reliever at low Class A Dayton in 2017, recording a 2.43 ERA in 44 appearances. He succeeded against youthful Midwest League competition with a 90 mph fastball and by locating a slider and changeup, but he understands the reality of the situation.

“I barely made it on the Dayton roster,” Fossas said “. . . Things had to go right for me, and then I came on as one of the last guys on the roster at each stage.”

From college to pro ball, Fossas said he has felt pressure to prove himself.

“To this point, it’s been something that’s helped me succeed as opposed to crippling me,” he said. “My goal is to show up to spring training (in 2018) . . . and try to earn a spot on a roster to start the year.”

Fossas barely made it to pro baseball. He went undrafted in 2016 and had signed a contract to work for Oracle in Boston when the Reds invited him to try out in Arizona. Fossas received permission from Oracle to pursue baseball and signed with Cincinnati on June 13.

As someone who has already searched for a job in the real world, Fossas knows what he’s learning now can help him if he wants to continue to work in baseball.

But for now, Fossas said he is focused on only one thing: “I want to play as long as possible.”