WINDSOR, Colorado — Northern Colorado Owlz center fielder Dario Gomez didn’t know much about Colorado before moving here after playing for the University of Miami, “The Rockies play here. I know that,” laughed Gomez. “I’m a Raiders fan, I know the Broncos play here.”
Alright let’s forget about the Raiders. The Las Vegas native now knows more about our state and he loves it here, “When I found out I made the team, I was ecstatic. I couldn’t believe it. I was just very fortunate. I felt very grateful. Every time I get put in that lineup, I’m fortunate.”
After hitting just one home run in 52 games with the Hurricanes last season, Gomez has already hit a league-leading 11 in his first year as a pro, “It’s fun. I’m known as a fast guy, so it’s a lot easier to run the bases when you’re jogging around them. I would say that’s the best part.”
Gomez was not drafted but it actually may be the best thing that happened to him, “Disappointment is one way to put it,” Gomez reflected. “But also it’s all about perspective. I think if I would have gotten drafted maybe a few years ago, I think I would have gotten cut because of the way I played. Throughout the process of not being drafted or signed, throughout that process I’ve been able to learn a lot more about what it takes to get there that I definitely would not have learned if I had gotten drafted.”
There are very few players who come out of independent league baseball and play in the big leagues, but the Owlz star hopes that one day he’ll come back to Colorado as a major leaguer while remembering his time in Windsor, “ That dream is huge I tell ya. I’m working towards it every day. If I get there, which I’m gonna work as hard as I can to get there, then I’m gonna give it everything I’ve got. But I’m just trying to become the best version of myself that I can and that’s good enough for me.”