The late great Mickey Mantle once said, “Nothing’s ever been as fun as baseball.” While a lot of baseball players share this view, few embody it the way Cotuit infielder Aiden Aguayo does. Aguayo relishes every moment he’s playing, and can always be found on the field with a smile on his face.
As to why he always chooses to smile on the field, Aguayo simply thinks that you cannot really play baseball without having a positive attitude. Especially with how unforgiving the sport can be, Aguayo sees playing loose as a way to thrive mentally.
“The game is already hard enough and you fail more than you succeed out here,” Aguayo said. “At the end of the day having fun is so important because it relieves the mental challenges of the game. Playing happy literally makes me feel better and play better.”
Love for the game came easy for Aguayo, originating back to his toddler years. Growing up in Whittier, California, Aguayo got into the game at the age of three and never turned back. Being from the heart of Southern California, Aguayo embraces the ‘SoCal attitude’ and tries to stay calm and happy on the field.
“I think growing up in California had a bit of an influence on my playstyle,” Aguayo said. “At the end of the day everyone there just has the theme of having fun with life. Baseball is a part of that.”
The people with the biggest influence on Aguayo’s love for the game are his parents. He credits them alongside his older cousins with being the ones to introduce him to the game and show him how fun baseball was.
By the time Aguayo was at La Mirada High School, his passion and positive attitude towards the game of baseball was undeniable. So was his talent. Aguayo hit over .300 in every year of his high school career, earning First-Team All Gateway League honors every year as well. With that resume, the college offers rolled in and Aguayo chose to stay home at UCLA.
After a very respectable freshman season with the Bruins, Aguayo joined the Kettleers June 23. Despite the season being underway for a week and a half, Aguayo did not shy away from bringing his positive attitude to the team.
He worked to engrain himself within the existing team culture, trying to gel within the team while also adding his own flair into the team. Aguayo sees the team’s chemistry as a high-point of the Kettleer experience so far.
“I always just wanted to build off of what this team already had when I came here and mesh as best I could…” Aguayo said. “I think I fit in pretty well with these guys, and we have such a great group with great chemistry.”
Having now played for Cotuit for a few weeks, Aguayo’s happy-go-lucky approach to the game has led to individual success. In 13 games played, he has hit for a .273 batting average while accumulating 12 hits. Additionally, he plays a very smooth infield, committing zero errors across second base, third base or shortstop. Having found his summer home with the Kettleers, Aguayo is yet again happy playing baseball.
Aguayo’s positive attitude does not go unnoticed in the dugout. Kettleer teammates and coaches alike see how he carries himself and act similarly. Despite being one of the younger guys on the team, Aguayo is a model character on the team.
“Aiden’s not the most flamboyant or loud individual but he’s fearless and just loves to play the game…” Coach Rob Cooper said. “I love coaching guys like that because they keep us grounded.”
With the back half of the season sure to test Cotuit both physically and mentally, having a player that radiates positivity like Aguayo will no doubt help the Kettleers as they push for a postseason run.
