Agricultural studies avenue offers Kale unique opportunity

Gunnar Kale loves everything about America's pastime.

"Being around the game whether I'm playing it, watching it or working with it is always something I strive for," the Merced, Calif., native admitted.

As time has passed on Morningside University's campus for Kale, an option has opened his eyes to a future in the Grand Old Game. 

"The agricultural studies department is giving me the chance to sort of develop my own study path," the agronomy major and ag business minor said. "Turf management is something I've been a part of since I was working the fields as a member of my high school team. It's a great fit for me." 

"When I was thinking about what I wanted to concentrate on in college, I just wasn't sure," he added. "Fortunately, my high school is one of two in the United States that offers a sort of a turf management path, so I had that going for me. My high school coach was always telling us 'Hey if have time and want to work on the field, you can.'"

Kale's study path has him basking in the sunny climate of Myrtle Beach, S.C., this summer. He is working through an internship with the Pelicans, a Class A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. While he knows the work comes first, he also is a sponge for knowledge from the future big leaguers. 

"This so much fun," he admitted. "I'm 100 percent around baseball. The weather doesn't hurt, either. I miss that from my youth and high school days." 

"For me, it goes beyond the games," he added. "I like watching batting practice and pre-game – where the players put the work in. It blows my mind at how they good they are at it. I'm working on picking up some little habits, whether it's something I see while fielding or hitting or just sitting in the dugout hearing conversations about what they want to do. It's a different perspective."

A typical day sees Kale and the crew on site around 9 a.m. They work through any big issues with the field and complex first. From there, it's dirt and clay work. On game days, they add in prepping the mounds and infield, watering the surface and dragging it. They also paint the baselines, set up for batting practice and tear that down."

"Yeah, it's the Cubs and on the beach, but there is still a lot of work to do," he added. "It's opened my eyes to different career options with head groundskeeper of a professional team at the top." 

Kale isn't stopping with this summer's work. He is talking with the Philadelphia Phillies about an externship that would have him on site for five and a half months. 

"That would be amazing," he said. "There are chances for interactions with the players, as I've seen in Myrtle Beach. To be at that level fulfills a dream opportunity – my ultimate career goal."

The young man who played whiffle ball with his dad in the family living room at a young age – adding to the sports passion of a lifetime in any way he can.