OBL FAQ Template
Life in pro baseball is hard to explain. Even when people have been close with your family for years, it can be nearly impossible to grasp all the details and nuance of what you’re doing, why you live in multiple places every year, and how this all works.
Every year, I write an FAQ post on my personal blog to help friends and family understand our lifestyle a little bit better. I thought it would be helpful to share it here so you could do it too!
Click the image at the bottom of this post to get the template in a PDF format. Feel free to copy, paste, and insert your own details. Sharing your FAQ on your blog, Facebook or as an Instagram post will help people understand your life a little better and can preempt a lot of questions you’re bound to get as the season starts.
Because my husband is a minor league coach, some of these questions will need to be changed based on your situation, but hopefully the template as a whole will get you started!
Here we go:
So who does your husband coach for?
He is a pitching coach in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.
Wow, so he coaches for the Diamondbacks? Can we hang out when you come to my big league city?
He coaches in their minor league system right now, so he will not be with the big league team except for in spring training.
So can we see you when we come to an Arizona Diamondbacks game this season?
We won’t be there. He coaches in the minor leagues. This year he will be coaching in Reno, Nevada.
What?
The Diamondbacks actually have 9 teams. One major league team and 8 minor league teams. Last year was his first season with the Reno Aces. Before that, he coached three seasons with the Visalia Rawhide, two years with the Missoula Paddleheads (formerly the Missoula Osprey), and his first three seasons were with the Arizona League Diamondbacks.
Here’s how the Arizona Diamondbacks organizations looks from top to bottom:
Arizona Diamondbacks (Major Leagues)
Reno Aces (AAA)
Jackson Generals (AA)
Visalia Rawhide (Advanced-A)
Kane County Cougars (A)
Hillsboro Hops (Short Season A)
Missoula Paddleheads (Advanced Rookie)
Arizona League Diamondbacks (Rookie)
Dominican Summer League Diamondbacks (Rookie)
Does your husband eventually want to coach in the pros?
Technically he is already coaching in the pros (Pros = players are paid to play). I think what you mean is major leagues, and yes that is the ultimate goal for pretty much every player and coach in professional baseball.
Do professional baseball coaches make millions of dollars?
Hahahahahahahahahaha.
Ha.
No.
As our son likes to say, we are “thousandaires.”
Are you sad to leave Texas?
Actually the kids and I will stay here until school is out, so we will only be gone a couple months over the summer.
Is it hard to be separated from Jeff for so long?
Yes. This season is our longest time apart since before we were married. For a few years we stayed together by homeschooling. It made the most sense while the kids were little and allowed us to travel with Jeff full time. Two years ago they started public school, and as of last year they have become so involved in sports and activities that we made the decision to keep them in school full time. We will go visit him in Arizona for an extended spring break next month and will be with him in Reno for part of the summer.
Where will you live when you get to Reno?
We will be staying at the home of a coach from the Cubs organization who himself is away all spring and summer. It works out great for both families!
Are you moving to Nevada forever?
No. Just for the baseball season, then we’ll be back in Texas before school starts up again.
I thought you moved to California?
Nope. That was just where my husband coached for a few summers.
Do you even like baseball?
Thankfully I LOVE baseball. I would hate to think of how this all would go if I didn’t. I also love the baseball community we have been a part of for our entire adult lives. There are so many amazing people in this game. I’m grateful to serve our community as COO of Our Baseball Life and editor for Baseball Chapel.
Is baseball life hard?
Sometimes. But it’s also fun and exciting and full of adventure. Plus, there’s nothing better than getting to watch my husband do what he was made to do.