From D2 Baseball to the Draft: The Journey of Russell Sandefer
When Russell Sandefer walked onto the campus of St. Leo University as a freshman, there wasn't much to suggest he would one day hear his name called in the MLB Draft.
He wasn't the biggest player. He wasn't the most highly recruited. In fact, Sandefer remembers entering high school at barely 5-foot-2 and around 100 pounds, calling himself "probably the worst player on the team." Instead of letting that define him, it became the fuel that shaped his career.
"I kind of took it personally that I wasn't the best player," Sandefer said. "I always wanted to be the best player on the team."
That mentality never changed.
Sandefer began at Division II St. Leo, transferred to UCF, and eventually earned an opportunity to pitch for his dream school, the University of Florida. Every stop presented a new challenge, but each also taught him something valuable. The biggest lesson wasn't about baseball.
It was about appreciation.
Moving from a small Division II program to two Division I schools showed him athletes from every background imaginable, but it also reinforced the importance of staying grateful.
"Appreciate what you have," Sandefer said. "You're lucky just to play college baseball."
Trusting the Process
Sandefer credits much of his growth to consistency rather than overnight success.
He calls himself a late bloomer, saying he didn't fully grow into his body until the past few years. Along the way, St. Leo head coach Rick O'Dette helped keep him grounded, while his family never stopped believing in him—even when his baseball future pointed toward Division II instead of the SEC.
For Sandefer, success wasn't about shortcuts. It was about showing up every day, trusting the work, and understanding that development takes time. "I knew it was going to be a lot of hard work," he said. "You've got to buy into the process."
Draft Day
Even after climbing through three different college programs, nothing compared to waiting for the MLB Draft.
Sandefer described the experience as nerve-racking, not knowing when—or even if—his name would be called. When his advisor finally called to say the Dodgers were selecting him, he ran inside to celebrate with his family.
Watching his name appear on MLB's draft tracker was the culmination of years of hard work.
"It was surreal," Sandefer said.
Ironically, the team he grew up rooting against quickly became the organization he never wants to leave. "I hated the Dodgers my entire life," he laughed. "Now I believe Dodger blue."
After arriving for his first week with the organization, Sandefer was blown away by the Dodgers' player development and the way they invest in players both on and off the field.
Staying Grounded
Despite reaching professional baseball, Sandefer's perspective hasn't changed.
His pregame routine includes visualizing past success and reading the Bible before taking the mound, helping him stay mentally prepared while keeping his faith at the center of his career.
Family also remains at the heart of everything he does. Growing up, Sandefer spent countless hours battling his older brother in the backyard with a skinny bat and tennis balls, competitions that sparked his love for baseball and his relentless desire to improve. Losing to his brother only fueled his competitive drive, while his family's constant support reminded him to stay grateful for every opportunity the game has given him. When asked about his future goals, he didn't mention promotions or statistics.
Instead, he kept it simple. "I just want to be a better baseball player six months from now than I am today."
Advice for the Next Generation
Sandefer's message to young athletes mirrors the path that brought him to professional baseball. Be honest with yourself. Learn from everyone. Work relentlessly. "Stack good days on top of each other," he said. "Be a sponge for information... Nothing great is going to be a walk in the park."
His journey proves there isn't just one road to professional baseball. Sometimes it starts as the smallest player on the field. Sometimes it begins at a Division II school. But for Russell Sandefer, every stop—from St. Leo to UCF to Florida and now the Los Angeles Dodgers—was simply another step toward the dream he never stopped chasing.
