Nephtali Flores stars for Santa Ana’s baseball team despite having just one arm (Photo: Facebook)
If you’re looking for inspiration heading into the holiday season, look no further than Nephtali Flores.
Flores, the first baseman, outfielder, backup catcher and relief pitcher at Santa Ana in California, is one of his team’s most versatile baseball players. And he does it all with just one arm.
Take in all that information one more time. Flores plays catcher, with one arm. He plays first base and outfield, where he has to switch the glove over to throw the ball. And he does it all seamlessly at a level high enough to justify a starting spot on a varsity baseball team.
“I was born this way, so I don’t know anything different,” Flores told the Orange County Register for a profile on his rise through baseball. “I can get by using just my left hand for everything. If not, I’ll figure it out and try to make up for it in other ways.”
Flores was inspired to continue chasing his baseball dream by Jim Abbott, the legendary one-handed pitcher who starred for the Angels and Yankees, among other teams. At each level Flores has had to convince coaches that he could cope, and his current leader is no different. Neither is the result.
“When I first saw him come out, I had my doubts,” Santa Ana coach Henry Buenrostro told the Register. “But then I saw his attitude, watched him play and practice and go through the drills, giving 100 percent every time and working harder than anybody, even the guys who have two arms.
“We don’t think of him as unique for having a disability. He’s unique because of how hard he works and how talented he is. … He’s the fastest player on the team. Maybe other coaches wouldn’t give him a chance but we did because he’s that good.”
In fact, he’s so good that his teammates have dubbed him the One Armed Wonder. It’s why Flores wears the number 1 on his jersey, and why his coaches and teammates universally insist that he deserves a chance to keep playing at the next level. Should it happen, he might just become the best story in junior college or college baseball overnight.
