By Hayden Swope:
As his final high school season approaches, Grant Rice of Minneapolis is focused on making the most of every moment on the field with his teammates.
“I’m really excited to just go out and have fun this season,” Rice said. “Since it’s my last season, I want to make sure I enjoy every moment and take it all in with my teammates. Another thing I’m really looking forward to is continuing to help the younger players grow and improve. Working with them has become something I really enjoy, and it’s cool getting to see them develop their skills and confidence.”
Rice’s offseason looked a little different than usual as he balanced a busy schedule while still finding ways to stay active in the game.
“This offseason has looked a little different for me because of work and how busy I’ve been, so I haven’t been able to spend as much time in the weight room,” Rice said. “However, all last summer and throughout this winter I’ve been giving lessons to the younger kids that I coach during the summer on a youth travel team.”
Rice also spent part of the offseason focused on recovering from an injury that impacted him during last season.
“In October, I also had a stem cell procedure done on my shoulder to help heal my torn labrum so I could throw again,” Rice said. “I recently finished an eight-week return-to-throwing protocol and have been working my way back into full baseball activities.”
Following treatment and rehabilitation, he hopes to return to the positions he enjoys most.
“After getting the stem cell treatment on my shoulder and ankle and completing my rehab and throwing program, my goal is to get back to pitching, catching, and playing shortstop,” Rice said. “I’ve worked toward that by focusing on rehab, completing my return-to-throwing program, and staying active throwing and hitting while coaching during the offseason.”
