Tyson Ambrose and His Dream

A STORY OF A MAN'S DREAM OF MAKING IT TO MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL...AT 33 YEARS OLD

Do you remember the story of Rudy Ruettiger? Of course you do, but I am going to remind you anyhow. That was the story of a 26 year old iron worker from Ohio who decided to quit his job and chase his dream of playing football for Notre Dame. Of course, they made a movie out of it called Rudy and it is probably the best movie ever made.

If you remember, he was declined admittance to Notre Dame two times and played on their practice squad for four years until his coach put him in on the final play of his final game. He ended up sacking the quarterback on his only play and to this day he was the only Notre Dame player to be carried off the field.

If you liked that story, sit back because you are in for a real treat. This is a story of a 33 year old Bernardsville resident who is a father of three and has spent the last 12 years in the automobile industry who, and get this, is trying to make it into Major League Baseball. And get what else? He hasn’t played baseball since he quit his sophomore year of high school.

Many long time Morris County residents might remember the name Tyson Ambrose. He was an All-County basketball player who graduated from Bayley Ellard in 1992. Ambrose was famous around in Morris County for having blazing speed and for being able to make his 5’4” frame dunk a basketball...and without much effort. He was just a stellar athlete.

But after a respectable two year career at Brown Mackie College in Salinas KS (a Division 1 Junior College), Ambrose decided it was time to start working. He began at car dealerships, learning how to operate and manage service centers. In the past 12 years he has worked for companies like SAAB and Infinity have a successful career managing the service centers at these companies.

But all the while, Ambrose had a slow burning fire inside him that he couldn’t put out. It was his dream of becoming a Major League Baseball player. Then two years ago, while sitting at the car dealership, he made a decision that would change the course of his life. It was the decision stop working and dedicate himself to make it to professional baseball. “A few years ago, I just woke up and knew I needed follow my heart.” Ambrose said about his moment of clarity. “I felt if I was going to do this the time was now.”

But Ambrose’s dream doesn’t come out of the clear blue sky. His story actually starts a long time ago. In fact, at one time, many people thought Ambrose had the natural ability, drive and smarts to be a hot prospect for the majors. In fact, he was even being groomed from a young age to do so.

You see, Ambrose is actually the son of Victor Ambrose, a former 2nd basemen for the Cleveland Indians. Baseball is part of the Ambrose family. “I grew up watching my dad play in major league baseball stadiums. There was no question that I was going to play baseball too. It was just what I was going to do.” Ambrose said about his youth.

“As a small kid I would be on the baseball field before games throwing the ball with major leaguers. I even remember being woken up one time by Chris Chambliss of the Yankees who was my dad’s friend.” Ambrose said about growing up with a pro-baseball dad.

Ambrose grew up in Morristown. In Little League he was dominant and brimmed with confidence on the field. “Most kid’s dads were just regular guys tossing the ball to their sons in their backyards. My dad was a professional second baseman playing for the Cleveland Indians.” Ambrose said about his early years. “I would come home from Kindergarten and my dad would be there with a bat, hitting me ground balls. And they would be hard too.”

Ambrose excelled at baseball. He was a nifty hitter, and a great fielder. But his real talent was his speed. For High School he went on to Bailey Ellard for High School and the baseball coach was licking his chops at the idea of having Tyson Ambrose on his team.

But during the early high school years, things started to change for Ambrose. His parents divorced and Ambrose grew defiant. Right in the middle of his sophomore year, Ambrose quit baseball all together.. “When you get older you can look back. Baseball was me and my dad’s connection. So when they divorced, quitting baseball was my way of acting out.”

Ambrose decided to focus all his energy on basketball. “My father didn’t know much about basketball so it was a way of putting distance between us. I always liked it. When I was in high school I told myself that the first sport I get a (college) letter for, I will go to college to play that sport.” Sure enough, a letter came from a college basketball coach interested in Ambrose and baseball was all but forgotten.

But basketball did not come as natural to Ambrose as baseball did. Being 5’4” did not help, but Ambrose immersed himself into the sport. “I focused all my energy to be the best basketball player I could be.” His hard work paid off too, because he received All-County honors and was went on to play at a Divion 1 leve in college.

However, all this time he was focusing on basketball, he was ignoring the promise of a possible pro baseball career. “My father thinks that if I never quit baseball that I would be on a major league baseball team as we speak, enjoying a long career.”

But Ambrose took another path. And now, with his physical ability still in tact, he is trying to go back in time to correct the past. Ambrose actually thinks he has a good 3 to 5 years to perform at a high level. “I don’t have any wear and tear on my body so I still feel like I am in my early 20’s physically. Right now I am in the best shape of my life.”

Ambrose’ enthusiasm could light a room. His energy and drive is so inspirational that you just don't doubt that he will fullfill his dream.

When Ambrose made a decision to follow his dream, people started to come out of the woodwork to help him. “It’s funny, when I decided to follow my dream, all of these guides started came into my life.

The first was Lee Rousan, former New York Giant football player. “Lee just came into the dealership one night and we hit it off.” Rousan, who happens to help people follow their dreams gave Ambrose some much needed advice. “He asked me, ‘Do you know who you are?’ He said, 'don’t answer that question to me, but answer it to yourself.'”

Then Rousan told Ambrose a story about a player he met at a High School All-Star football game back early 80's. He said he went up to him and asked him who he was. The boy responded by saying, “I am the best wide receiver of all time.” Rousan told Ambrose that player was a young Jerry Rice, who ended up being the NFL’s all time receiving record holder.

On His Talent

When Ambrose was in high school he had the speed that major league teams salivate over. Florida Marlin scout Brian Guilianna says, “In high school Tyson was running right around 6.5 in the 60 (yard dash). The league average is 7 seconds. That is Jose Reyes speed. If Tyson played in high school he would have definitely been recruited by a major D1 school, no doubt.”

Ambrose has been working really hard and believes he still has the speed and the skill to play baseball at a very high level. For the last year he has been working out hard for 6 hours a day, seven days a week. “I actually was timed right around 6.5, 6.6 in the 60 a few months back.” Ambrose says of his physical condition. “I have been working really hard so that if I do make it, I will be in the condition of playing the grueling schedule of baseball.”

“Physically, I can do anything. What hurts me not playing all these years has been the lack of repetitions needed to build a good skill set.” Ambrose actually had a few tryouts last year with the Reds and Brewers. “I got a lot of good feedback and encouragement there. The one thing that I lacked was the reps.”

“I don’t just want to play, I want to be successful. If I make it onto a team, I will do everything I can to help myself get better. I will be the first guy at the ball park and the last guy to leave. I will study film, whatever I need to do, I will do.”

“I would like to make it to a pro team. But even if I make it into an independent league to start, that will be great.” If he does make it to an independent league, a guy with his speed could be picked up by a pro team mid season.

Guillianna thinks Ambrose is good enough to play baseball at a high level. “Tyson is in unbelievable shape right now. Do I think he could make it to the pro’s? I think he could get picked up in an independent league at this point. He needs the structure of playing to develop his arm.”

“Tyson is a really inspirational guy. I think no matter what, Tyson could really make a career out of helping young athletes stay on the right path. He could be an inspirational speaker.” Guillianna said about Ambrose.

That would be fine for Tyson too, because according to him he does not seeing himself returning to the automobile industry anytime soon. “I will never work behind a desk ever again.”

“I hope my story inspires young kids to stick with what they are doing. When I was young, I didn’t know that my actions would affect my life down the road. If someone sat me down and told me of the impact of not sticking with baseball, I might have made a better choice.”

Ambrose’s Son

Life has a funny way of repeating history. Ambrose was given the gift of having an athletically gifted son as well. Ambrose’ son, Sean David Ambrose, is only five years old and is glowing with the talent that reminds dad of himself.

Even pro athletes have taken notice of Sean David. “I have never seen a kid, at such a young age, have that much talent.” Said Sam Garnes, former New York Giant and Jet who works out at Parisi Gym where Ambrose works out as well. “Tyson will hit the ball hard to him, and his son gets right in front of it with his whole body and makes a perfect throw. I have never seen a kid with talent like that at such a young age.”

“He is one of my biggest inspirations.” Ambrose says about his son. “One of my biggest goals is for him to see me with my uniform on in the setting of a major league ball park.”

Ambrose’ big test starts in a few weeks. January will begin workouts and tryouts in front of scouts and teams. He will find out if all of his hard work will take him to the next level. And just like Rudy, nothing seems to be getting in the way of Ambrose of at least giving it his all!