Kern Enjoying Life As A Professional Baseball Player

Kade Kern OF / RHP / Archbold, OH / 2020

SARASOTA, Fla. - Kade Kern has been a professional baseball player for more than two weeks now. Being part of the Atlanta Braves’ organization is everything he hoped it would be.

“I came down, signed and had a physical,” Kern explained. “The first week we had a minicamp that introduced us to the organization and showed us the ropes. We’ve been playing FCL (Florida Complex League) games since then. I’m swinging it well. It’s good to be playing again.”

A 17th-round selection in this year’s Major League Baseball Draft, the 2020 Archbold High School graduate admits he had no idea how this year’s draft would go.

“I was in my hometown with family,” Kern reflected. “It was a stressful day. We all started in the same room but we spread apart after a while. Once I got the call I told my dad and he let them all know. Then we all came together. It was kind of a cool moment.”

The 519th selection related there was definitely some uncertainty on his end when it came to the draft.

“Obviously the higher I was drafted the better,” Kern said. “I talked to a lot of teams and had been in contact with the Braves. I worked out with four teams prior, but the Braves weren’t one of them. On mid-day three of the draft my advisor was telling me the Braves were interested and if the opportunity to take me came up they were going to pick me.”

Kern was expecting to be selected around rounds 14-16.

“I was stressed out,” Kern admitted. “In talking to my advisor he kept telling me to calm down, be patient. I had faith it was going to happen.”

Kern was the second player from Archbold taken in this year’s MLB Draft, with high school classmate Jeron Williams chosen in the ninth round by the Astros.

“I talk to him a lot,” Kern said. “We’re best friends and we called each other when we were drafted. He’s 21/2 hours east of me right now. He’s doing the same thing as me, he’s in mini-camp.”

With one year of eligibility remaining at Ohio State, there was always the option to return to school.

“I stayed in contact with the coaches there talking about the situation,” Kern noted. “We talked prior and they asked what it would take when I got drafted so they knew what I was thinking. He called afterward and congratulated me.”

There was really no doubt what would then happen.

“I wanted to get drafted, that was my biggest thing,” Kern said. “I wanted the opportunity to play professional baseball.”

After all, interest from the pros has been there for some time according to the 21-year-old.

“I heard a little from them senior year of high school and then my freshman and sophomore years of college I was talking with my advisor over Christmas break and sat down with some,” reflected Kern, who hit .325, .298 and .283 in his three years with the Buckeyes, pounding out 17 home runs while driving in 101. “I saw more this spring and the closer it got to summer the more teams were interested in me.”

The 6-0 200-pound outfielder points to his time at Ohio State as beneficial in helping it all come to fruition.

“It was a good stepping stone going into pro ball,” Kern related. “I learned a lot of similarities to what I’m learning now so it doesn’t feel that much different. I was well prepared for this.”

Kern understands what has to be done at this point in time.

“I need to improve at everything,” Kern said. “Hitting is the biggest thing. If you can hit, you can move up faster. I’m just focusing on swinging it against the competition here.”

A typical day includes an early lift followed by practice until 9:30. After that, a bus ride to play a noon game followed by food at the facility.

“By then it’s 4:30 and you chill out the rest of the day,” Kern said.

As for the remainder of the summer, there is nothing set in stone.

“I’m just going day by day,” Kern explained. “I’m not exactly sure if I’ll be sent to Low A or not.”

No matter what the immediate future is, Kern is hoping for the best.

“Obviously the goal is to get to the Big Leagues as fast as possible,” Kern concluded. “I’m just going to work hard and see where it takes me.”