Joe Powell
A phone call changed everything for Joe Powell.
It wasn鈥檛 all that long ago that Powell, now a catcher for Mississippi State鈥檚 baseball team, thought his career on the diamond was over. The former backstop for the University of Cincinnati had made the decision to hang up his cleats for good. Then the Mason, Ohio, native was contacted by a bunch of Bulldogs down in Starkville prior to this season and just like that, Powell got a second chance at the game he loves.
鈥淚 started out at Cinci and dealt with a few injuries,鈥 Powell explained. 鈥淚 just got to a point where I felt like I needed to be done. I stepped away from the field for a little bit. I found myself personally a little bit and I found Jesus Christ. I got baptized and he is the only reason I鈥檓 here.
鈥淸I鈥檇 taken] 18 months off [from baseball] and went to EMT school. I was going to be a firefighter. But I got a phone call [from MSU] and they said, 鈥楬ey, do you want to come play ball?鈥欌
Using his faith and his feelings, Powell鈥檚 answer was pretty quickly an emphatic "Yes."
鈥淚 thought about it and prayed about it, and it seemed like the right decision,鈥 Powell said. 鈥淚 fell in love with the campus from the day I stepped on it here. It鈥檚 been unbelievable ever since.鈥
Powell has quickly found success on the field and off it since donning the Maroon and White. Through the first five games of his Bulldog career, Powell boasted an impressive .357 batting average. He also delivered a go-ahead three-run double in MSU鈥檚 midweek win over Jackson State on Feb. 27.
Off the field, Powell has quickly developed a bond with his fellow Bulldogs and felt what it means to be immediately taken into the Mississippi State family despite just jumping into the fray with them this semester.
鈥淭hese guys didn鈥檛 have to be as loving and as welcoming as they are,鈥 Powell said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e all good dudes [in our locker room] and we love each other.鈥
It seems fitting to say for a baseball player, but life is full of curveballs. You never know what鈥檚 just around the corner.
In Powell鈥檚 case, it was the perfect opportunity to not just return to baseball, but to do so with a newfound maturity and purpose as a Diamond Dawg.
鈥淚t鈥檚 humbling for sure,鈥 Powell said. 鈥淚 knew I was an elite player when I left the game, and that was the hardest part. I finally went out there and showed it. But in some areas of our life, we have to keep growing and learning. I grew physically, spiritually and mentally off the field for 18 months. That鈥檚 why I feel more prepared now than ever to come here and do what I鈥檓 doing.鈥