Cervenka hoping to rep Czech Republic in MLB

This browser does not support the video element.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- When Martin Cervenka first told his family he dreamed of making the Majors, his grandma laughed. She had reasons to be dubious. For starters, Cervenka was eight, and eight-year-olds from anywhere face long big-league odds.

But the young Cervenka faced longer than most. He was born and raised in Czechia, the small central European country known more for producing beer than ballplayers. That¡¯s 10 hours by plane and an ocean away from the closest MLB stadium, and even further removed historically. Hence grandma¡¯s doubts.

¡°I didn¡¯t remember telling her that,¡± Cervenka said. ¡°But she reminded me this winter.¡±

A few months later, Cervenka is on the doorstep of making that dream a reality. The 26-year-old veteran Minor League catcher¡¯s presence in Orioles¡¯ camp is a testament as much to his hard work as it is to baseball¡¯s expanding global reach. Signed as a 16-year-old out of a Prague-based amateur league in 2009, Cervenka stands a chance to become the first Czech national to reach the bigs in at least 67 years, and as many as 140.

(Carl Linhart, who made two pinch-hitting appearances for the Tigers in 1952, is technically considered the last. But that¡¯s debated due to the region¡¯s fluid history. According to Czech baseball historian Jan Jabrocky, Linhart and others credited with Czech nationality were actually born in modern-day Slovakia. The two countries split in 1993 with the fall of the Soviet Union. What¡¯s clear is Cervenka would be the first big leaguer to grow up in what is now considered Czech.)

¡°The kids back home mostly played soccer and ice hockey, but for me it was always baseball,¡± Cervenka said. ¡°Usually when someone asks me what I do, I say ¡®I play baseball,¡± and they have no idea what I¡¯m talking about.¡±

Grandma¡¯s initial reaction aside, Cervenka¡¯s family encouraged him to pursue his dream, however farfetched. He estimates between 4,000-5,000 people play baseball or men¡¯s softball in Czech, exclusively in amateur leagues. Martin¡¯s father, Filip, was one of them, and his passion trickled down to his three sons.

The eldest, Marek, took to pitching. Martin became a catcher and a San Francisco Giants fan; a Barry Bonds kid when it was kind of tough not to be. The nine-hour time difference between San Francisco and Prague meant Cervenka often stayed up deep into the night streaming Giants games, his heroes accessible via an MLB.TV subscription. He also longed for bleary-eyed glimpses of Ivan and Alex Rodriguez as well.

By 15, he was playing in Extraliga, the country¡¯s top amateur circuit, against some players twice his age. A good showing there earned him a spot at an MLB-run tryout in Krc, Czech, which led to an invitation to Major League Baseball¡¯s European Baseball Academy in Italy in 2009. At the month-long clinic for the continent¡¯s top prospects, Cervenka brushed shoulders with Gift Ngoepe, who¡¯d become the Majors¡¯ first African-born player when he debuted with the Pirates in 2017.

He also caught the attention of Indians scout Pete Gahan, who signed Cervenka to a contract that allowed him to finish high school before embarking on Minor League life. Cervenka spent the next two seasons developing in Extraliga and playing winter ball in Australia. He reported to Arizona for rookie ball in 2011.

¡°The first few years were the toughest,¡± Cervenka said. ¡°It was the first time, for me, being away from my family, being alone, being out of country as well.¡±

The competition, too, was different. Exposed to higher velocity and consistently sharp breaking pitches for the first time, Cervenka struggled to adjust, hitting .189 while playing sparingly over his first five Minor League seasons. Results started coming in 2017, at which point, 24 and still at Class A, Cervenka was released.

But Cervenka took with him a strong defensive reputation, and catchers are always in demand. He caught on with the Orioles for 2018 and broke out with 15 homers in 97 games at Double-A Bowie, his first summer at that level. He was soon playing in the Arizona Fall League.

¡°He¡¯s come a long way,¡± said Gary Kendall, Cervenka¡¯s manager last season at Bowie. ¡°It¡¯s been a well-traveled road for him.¡±

And he keeps going back. Cervenka returns home each offseason, lifting at local gyms and cramming in college classes during winter sessions. He completed a bachelor¡¯s degree a few years ago and is currently working toward a master¡¯s in management. He also speaks four languages.

¡°With baseball, you never know, one injury can change everything,¡± Cervenka said. ¡°My parents were really big on me going to college and getting my education as well.¡±

In the meantime, he¡¯s inching closer and closer to that initial, unlikely goal. Now in his first big league camp, Cervenka is one of the longest shots to crack the Orioles¡¯ Opening Day roster. But he¡¯s closer to the Majors than ever, and a few breaks (maybe an injury or two) from realizing a dream spawned decades ago, half a world away.

¡°Now Martin is the most popular player in Czech,¡± said Jabrocky. ¡°Because he is close to the Majors, the mainstream media here has [started to focus] on him. If he plays in the Majors, it can help baseball here a lot.

More from MLB.com

seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com