Glenbard's Anetsberger contemplates next move

Ryan Anetsberger spent a successful spring training just relaxing and enjoying the sport he loves.

Right before the Florida Marlins broke camp, however, he received a harsh reminder of baseball's business side.

After two seasons of playing minor-league ball, the Glenbard West graduate and Illinois State University standout was released by the Marlins.

"I was shocked, but it's a tough business," said Anetsberger, a four-year starting shortstop for the Hilltoppers who graduated in 2004. "I was playing well, I was relaxed, it was enjoyable. Then they just told me they were going to have to let me go."

Now Anetsberger is left to decide if he's played his last game. Tryouts begin soon for independent teams like the Windy City Thunderbolts of the Frontier League, but he's not sure if that's the direction he wants to head.

Less than a month after his release, Anetsberger's still settling into a life where he's no longer a pro baseball player.

"There are things I want to do with my life outside of baseball," the 23-year-old said. "I just need to figure out what's next."

In 2007 Anetsberger was drafted in the 15th round of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft. Anetsberger, who batted .480 with 45 RBI in his all-state senior year at Glenbard West, had started all 153 games he played in three seasons at Illinois State.

After signing with the Marlins in mid-June 2007, Anetsberger began his professional career with the Jamestown (N.Y.) Jammers. He started at third base and made the midseason all-star team of the New York-Penn League.

The next season Anetsberger picked up from where he left off. He went to Class A Greensboro and had a great start until a frustrating string of injuries wrecked his 2008 season.

It began when Anetsberger was hit in the elbow by pitches four times in three games. Then while playing first base, a collision with a baserunner injured his wrist. He kept playing for a while, but eventually he succumbed to a 10-week stint on the disabled list.

Anetsberger returned for the end of the season, but his focus shifted to 2009. After, that is, spending a fall semester at Illinois State to work toward completing his degree in business management.

Everything seemed on track until April 4 in Florida when Anetsberger was called into a meeting and released one day before he was to be assigned to a minor-league team.

"I was surprised, and they even told me I was playing well," he said. "It was just a numbers situation. They didn't have a spot for me."

Since returning home he's worked at the DuPage Training Academy and played a lot of golf. So much golf, in fact, that he's considering trying out for Illinois State's team in the fall. Anetsberger has one year of eligibility available, and he may try to use it.

If he decides to play for an independent baseball team, it'll be with the goal of signing with a MLB team. If he doesn't sign with anyone, Anetsberger will return to Normal and finish his degree.

As much as Anetsberger loves baseball - other than the business side, of course - he's prepared to move on.

"Everything happens for a reason," he said. "It's not the end of the world if I don't play baseball again."