At age 32, Las Vegas product fights for another chance in the big leagues

Sean Kazmar had dreamed of this game since he was a child, imagining everything from taking infield practice to getting a hit and the roar of the crowd. But dreaming on this night was different — the following day, the fantasy would become a reality with Kazmar making his big-league debut for the San Diego Padres.

The infielder recalled a pointer from Tim Chambers, his former coach at the College of Southern Nevada, who told him earlier in the night to expect a first-pitch fastball from Milwaukee starter C.C. Sabathia.

“I specifically remember trying to go to sleep that night and thinking, first pitch fastball; be ready to swing,” Kazmar said. “So I get up (to bat) and there’s one out in the third inning. Sure enough, he threw a fastball on the first pitch. I put a good swing on it and got a hit.”

Kazmar was in the big leagues for nearly 50 days to close the 2008 season. He played in 19 games and had eight hits. It was supposed to be the start of a long career.

But the next season he was back in the minor leagues fighting for another at-bat in the show. Nine years later, the 32-yearold Kazmar is still in the minor leagues and still chasing the dream.

He’s in his fifth season with the Gwinnett, Ga., Braves, the top minor league affiliate of Atlanta, and this season set its record for games played. He’s also closing in on a handful of other club records,