Minor leaguers driven by passion, not paychecks

Isaac Pavlik made professional baseball history a long way from the spotlight of the major leagues.

The New Jersey Jackals pitcher recorded his 1,000th career strikeout on Aug. 2, becoming the first in CanadianAmerican League history to reach that milestone.

A 10th-round draft pick by the Rockies out of Seton Hall in 2002, Pavlik has been pitching for the Jackals since 2007. His longevity in independent baseball is rare. But his passion for the game keeps him there.

The challenges of independent baseball aren’t hard to find.

There is little financial reward : the average salary is $1,200 per month : and most players live with host families, sometimes with two or three other players in the same home. Some live in hotels.

In the offseason, Pavlik gives pitching lessons and helps his wife Melissa, who runs a wedding invitation business in addition to working as a travel agent.

But once baseball season rolls around, Pavlik’s back on the mound.

“It’s something that we’ve worked so hard for,” said Pavlik, who is also the Jackals’ pitching coach. “It’s not easy to walk away.”

There was a time when Pavlik, 37, believed he was destined for the major leagues.

Anyone in his position would have. The major league draft was the first step on the climb toward the top, the first step toward realizing a dream.

“Everybody thinks that they’re the one,” Pavlik said.

He was released in 2004 after pitching at the Class A level for three seasons. That was the first “gut check.” Pavlik then went to spring training with the Padres as a non-roster invite in 2005.

“Again you think, ‘All right, I got it,’ ” Pavlik said. “Didn’t work out.”

Then after starting 2006 with the independent New Jersey Jackals, the Cubs signed him and Pavilk found himself at Class AA. He wasn’t brought back the following year.

“It was a real big gut check because it’s the third time now and you sit there like, you know you’re good enough why isn’t it working out?” said Pavlik, a Paramus resident. “And you start to realize the other business aspect of it.”

The three “gut checks” didn’t extinguish his competitive fire and they didn’t diminish his love for the game. Pavlik still loved wearing a uniform and still loved being on the mound. Looking to keep his professional baseball career going, Pavlik returned to the Jackals in 2007.

“From there it’s like, I just want to do this as long as I can,” Pavlik said.

He’s been there ever since. And he’s still pitching well, entering Monday, the lefty was 10-3 with a 4.13 ERA.

Independent baseball is filled with players like Pavlik, who just want to continue playing baseball for as long as they can. But there are plenty others who are doing everything they can to get out of the league and sign with a major league organization as they continue to chase their big-league dreams. Some are looking for a second chance.

Sussex County Miners manager Bobby Jones has had players at various stages of their careers come through his clubhouse.

“It’s pretty challenging but it’s kind of fun in the same way,” Jones said. “You just meet so many different personalities and their approach to the game.”

Jones was drafted by the Brewers in the 44th round in 1991. He pitched in the majors for four teams, including the Mets in 2000 and 2002.