Chasing the Dream: A Yuma native’s journey to the MLB

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - For Yuma native Issac Araiza, a lifelong dream is one step closer to becoming reality.

The former Yuma Catholic standout and San Diego State pitcher is preparing for this weekend's Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, hoping to hear his name called after years of hard work, perseverance and dedication to the game.

Araiza said he knew from the moment he picked up a baseball that he wanted to play at the highest level.

"As soon as I started playing baseball, I told my parents I'm going to play Division I baseball," Araiza said. "I never sold myself short. I always dreamed big."

His parents, Rudy and Jessica Araiza, remember when that childhood dream became something much more.

"You know, you ask kids like, 'Hey, what do you want to be when you grow up?' And he’s like well, I want to be a professional baseball player," Rudy Araiza said. "Everything he did, it was around baseball. Everything he did."

Jessica Araiza said her family eventually realized her son was actively working toward a goal, not a dream.

"As he got older, he wasn't joking," she said. "He practiced harder, he did everything harder. Everything revolved around baseball and that when we kind of knew like, wait a minute. I don't think it's a joke anymore. It's not a dream...it's a goal."

Araiza began his high school career at Cibola before committing to San Diego State University prior to his sophomore season. He later transferred to Yuma Catholic, where he developed under head baseball coach Judd Thrower.

"I never had coached a guy with as much drive and talent as he had," Thrower said. "Went out there and wanted the ball in every big game that we could give him. And just drove the team to heights that was at that point a bit new for our program."

At San Diego State, Araiza faced adversity after suffering a forearm flexor strain that shortened his sophomore season and affected his performance the following year.

He credited the Aztecs coaching staff for helping him regain his confidence heading into his senior campaign.

That work paid off. In his final collegiate season, Araiza posted a 2.45 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings while earning three wins out of the bullpen.

Now, with the MLB Draft approaching, Araiza hopes to become one of roughly 600 players selected and continue inspiring the next generation of athletes in Yuma.

"I just want to be an example of you know, basically hope for kids. Coming out of here that it’s possible." Araiza said. "Sometimes it’s not the way you plan it. There's so many ways that you can do it."

His family says they'll be supporting him no matter what happens.

"I'm so proud of him," Rudy Araiza said. "I think at the end of the day, that's his dream. And that's my wife and I...that's our dream too. We're behind him and we expect like the best for him."

After years of chasing his dream, Araiza now waits to see if the next chapter of his baseball journey begins with a call from a Major League organization this weekend.