DAYTONA BEACH – Baseball is a game of opportunity, and no one is more keenly aware of that fact than former Embry-Riddle pitcher Zac Grotz. After taking the mound at four different colleges and in three different countries professionally, the former Eagle and Major League Baseball hurler has his eyes set on yet another opportunity to shine. 
 
Early in October, at the age of 31, Grotz was one of just 28 players – and 15 pitchers – selected to Team USA's Premier12 squad. The select group is destined to play on the international stage in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 tournament in Mexico and Japan. 
 
Team USA begins play on Nov. 9 in Tepic, Mexico, hoping to reach the Tokyo Dome in Japan for the finals in late November. Throughout the month, Grotz and his teammates will play the likes of Puerto Rico, The Netherlands, Venezuela, Panama and Mexico.
 
"I've never been a top prospect," Grotz said, "and I thought I might be done professionally at 31, especially with elbow issues, but then Team USA called. I didn't know if it was going to line up like it has, but I'm super excited, it's a great honor."
 
Accustomed to playing in different leagues, currently in the Dominican Republic and most recently before that with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League, Grotz said his primary goal at this stage of his career is to take in all that the game of baseball has to offer.
 
"I just want to experience it all," he said. "I've played in Mexico and the Dominican Republic, but I've always wanted to play in Asia. The goal is to reach the finals and play in Japan, and just experience that. Obviously we want to win it all as a team, but It's just really fun to perform in different environments and in different places."
 
Back in 2014, honing in on his fourth school in as many years, Grotz was looking for a place to call home and enjoy being a student for his final year of eligibility. As a high school standout, he was All-County and All-League for Burlingame High School in California, before starting his journey close to home at Cal State Monterey Bay in 2012. From there, he transferred to the College of San Mateo, where he was First Team All-Coast Conference, then to the University of Tennessee in 2013, where he saw action in just six games.
 
"When I left Tennessee, I didn't care a lot about baseball, I kind of fell out of love with it," he said. "My goal was to go to a good school, and I had no real expectations other than to have fun and enjoy my final year."
 
But after settling into the city and the University, Grotz eventually got more than he bargained for.
 
"The coaches made it really fun for me. I played four years at four different schools, and I sort of always felt like a freshman. At Embry-Riddle, I was able to feel like a leader. The way I was treated, my teammates, just everything. I loved my time there, and it was probably my favorite school out of all."
 
As a program, Embry-Riddle and the Eagles' coaching staff of Randy Stegall, Chuck Stegall and Dave Therneau played a key part in Grotz's personal resurgence in the game. 
 
"I could talk with Randy about anything. He and I had a great relationship," he said. "And with Coach T (Dave Therneau, current head coach and then-ERAU pitching coach), there was a lot of mutual respect there. Unlike a lot of the other coaches I played for or was recruited by, Coach T flat out told me I have to earn it. I loved the honesty, and it really did make me want to work hard to earn my role. I honestly loved it. We have a good relationship to this day."
 
Over his one-year stint at ERAU, Grotz was nearly untouchable. After yielding two earned runs in the third game of the year in 2015, he gave up just four earned over the next 29 outings, ending his senior campaign with an impeccable 0.70 ERA in 77.2 IP, featuring 90 punchouts to just 47 hits and 12 walks.

"In the middle of a bullpen session," Therneau said of Grotz, "I asked the question why he was throwing low. He said Tennessee had dropped him down and he really didn't have a choice. I said to throw a few from where it was and it was clean, smooth, and natural. I remember saying that's who you are now, and I think that helped his confidence and belief and his season was as dominant as I have seen with the exception of Phillip Reamy maybe."
 
A 28th-round selection by the Houston Astros in 2015, after graduating with a degree in business administration from ERAU, Grotz eventually worked his way up to the Major Leagues with the Seattle Mariners, making his debut for the M's on Feb. 21, 2019. With his two-inning showing, Grotz became just the second ERAU product to make his MLB debut after Daniel Ponce de Leon (2018 with the Cardinals) and before Tyler Cyr (2022 with the Phillies).

"I just remember my phone ringing at a conference in Denver after the season during the draft," Therneau stated, "and it was John Martin from the Houston Astros with interest and a lot of questions about Zac. I told him I know he's not a top prospect type draft but all he is going to do is pitch his way to the big leagues.  You would be crazy not to take him.  I am very proud of him and the adversity he has faced."
 
With his roster spot on Team USA confirmed, Grotz will be coached by former World Series-winning manager Mike Scioscia, and playing alongside of current and former MLB players and future stars, like Termarr Johnson, Anthony Gose, Chris Okey, Rich Hill, Dan Atlavilla, Spencer Patton and Touki Toussaint as the Americans are in search of overseas gold.