The Iowa native left home, venturing, solo, into the real world to pursue his chosen career path.
The Iowa native left home, venturing, solo, into the real world to pursue his chosen career path.
He was 14 years old.
Youâve got to have a pretty strong belief in your abilities as a ballplayer to do what Sean Gamble did a few years back.
It was, well, a gamble.
But his time refining his versatile profile at IMG Academy has him here, on the precipice of a professional career.
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This is what Gamble, an 18-year-old second baseman and center fielder ranked No. 23 on MLB Pipelineâs 2025 Draft Prospects list, envisioned for himself when he bid adieu to Des Moines to move to Bradenton, Fla.
âProbably my first week there, I got home sick,â Gamble said at the MLB Draft Combine. âOne day, Iâm sleeping in my own bed at home, and the next day Iâm 2,000 miles away from home, with no friends, no family, in a small dorm. So the reality hit me. But it helped me mature and become independent and helped me become a man. So Iâm very thankful for it.â
Gamble has grown as a person and a player. Heâs gained strength, showed control of the zone, a knack for finding the barrel and above-average speed. Heâs proven athletic enough to handle big assignments in the middle of the diamond, be it center field or second base. Some scouts think he could play shortstop long-term.
A Vanderbilt commit, Gamble portrays the kind of confidence one must have to take such a bold leap of faith at 14.
âI originally went to IMG for tennis camp [at around 8 years old],â he said. âBut while I was there, I realized that they had baseball. So I tapped my parents on the shoulder and said, âNext time, Iâm coming for baseball camp.â And I continued to come each summer, and they kept inviting me back, and the opportunity presented itself for me to go there for my freshman year.â
Having proven himself against elite competition at events like the Area Code Games and USA baseballâs 18U National Team Camp, itâs safe to say Gamble has made the most of the opportunity.
âI just think Iâve attacked every day,â he said. âI think Iâve been passionate about my work every single day. I think Iâve become a very good leader and responsible person, on and off the field. Someone that somebody else could trust.â
