It’s been a long journey for former Owensboro Catholic standout Ray Zuberer, but his recent role with the Florence Y’all’s has him one step closer to his dreams of playing in the big leagues.
Zuberer was a multi-sport athlete with the Aces in high school, playing baseball, football and basketball—having started playing varsity sports in seventh grade. He even grabbed the Wallace “Wah Wah” Jones award for best multi-sport athlete in the state his senior year for his efforts.
He then went on to play five years at Western Kentucky University, but Zuberer said it was Owensboro Catholic that helped strengthen himself mentally and physically on and off the field to reach those heights in his baseball career.
“I grew in my faith most importantly and learned how to carry myself through good and bad times,” Zuberer said. “I was lucky enough to have great teachers and coaches while I was there. You also couldn’t play at a high level without having a great work ethic so that was one of the first things that I learned once I started playing varsity sports. I started playing Varsity baseball in seventh grade so everyone was better than me and it drove me crazy, even if I was only in middle school. I had to work harder than everybody else starting at an early age.”
Zuberer knew he wanted to play professionally even before arriving at Bowling Green, but once his eligibility ran up the options weren’t presenting themselves. So he made his way back home, working and training before betting on himself and taking his talents to the Frontier League.
“After college unfortunately I didn’t get the chance that I wanted to play professionally,” Zuberer said. “I started working a job at Independence Bank in Owensboro and then moved to Louisville to work for a baseball training facility. The Y’alls reached out and I sent them a video. Had a contract the next day.”
He’s now in his second season with the Y’Alls, still chasing the dream of making it to the major leagues with 12 home runs, 52 RBIs and a .285 batting average under his belt this year. But being able to play professionally is an accomplishment in and of itself, something younger Ray said his younger self would be absolutely ecstatic about.
It’s been a whirlwind of a season, as Zuberer and company got off to a strong start but hit a rough patch towards the end of the first half of the season. But he said they’re starting to turn things back around, and ready to battle through some adversity as the year winds down.
“I’ve been swinging it a lot better as of recently but there’s still a lot of baseball left,” Zuberer said. “It’s a grueling game and can humble you real quick but that’s what I love about it. One day you feel like you’re the best player in the league and then the next you feel like you’ve never played baseball before. We’re all a little crazy for playing but I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Ray said that the relationships he’s developed while with Florence are some life long friendships, and he’s happy to have the chance to continue to push for his MLB dreams with a great support system behind him.
“The goal is to get picked up out of here and continue to climb up and play in the bigs one day,” Zuberer said. “Win a few rings along the way… I wouldn’t be here today without the living support of my family, friends, teachers and coaches. Every one of them has helped me in many ways and I’m forever grateful for all of them.”
