Pace Paw Print

His friends and roommates are hitting the books and studying for their last semester of college which has just begun. They are constructing the perfect resumes and applying for as many jobs as they can, hoping to land something they truly love.

For Matthew David Arburr, the Bristol, CT native however, this spring presents something unique and exciting. On March 5, Arburr left his family and friends behind as he flew south to West Palm Beach, FL for his first spring training experience.

After lettering in baseball for three years as a Pace University Setter of Pleasantville, Arburr was drafted as a third basemen by the St. Louis Cardinals in round 18 of the 2007 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

Arburr played in the summer of '07 for the Johnson City Cardinals in Tennessee, the rookie affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals competing in the Appalachian League. While he did get his first taste of professional baseball during the summer months of last year, he has not yet experienced spring training and a full year of baseball at the professional level.

At 6'4 and 260 pounds, the monster of a third basemen has been looking forward to traveling to West Palm Beach and meeting with the team, being that this has been his dream for as long as he can remember.

"The only thing I've ever wanted to be, even when I was a little kid, was a professional baseball player. I am lucky enough to have gotten the chance, and I couldn't be more excited right now," Arburr said.

While he may think so, it doesn't seem that luck was the only reason behind Arburr achieving as much as he has. His work ethic during his college years both on the field and off have left an impression on both his coaches and his teammates.

Pace's pitching coach of four years and the one who is responsible for Arburr attending Pace, Trevor Brown, thinks Arburr's attitude and work ethic fit nicely at the professional level.

"His work ethic through the years has improved increasingly. He works very hard to get better. And as far as his attitude, it fits great at the professional level. He will not bring the outcome of one at bat into the next at bat," Brown stated.

Not only his coaches, but his friends and roommates feel the same about Arburr and his dedication. Two year roommate and teammate of Arburr, Denis Alimonti says with a smile, "Matt works hard at everything he does. He stays after and hits when everyone leaves, and he is constantly thinking of adjustments to get better. He also gets better grades than everyone it seems like, too. We hate it."

Arburr is supporting a 3.5 GPA through three and half years of college as a Finance major. He needs one more semester to graduate, which he plans to complete in the fall of this year after his team's season.

His work ethic and hard working nature doesn't come out of nowhere. When asked of his parents and family, Arburr answers in a sincere voice, "I owe everything to my family. They have always been there; whether I was doing good or bad it didn't matter. They loved me every day no matter what."

Arburr gives credit where it is deserved, and he thanks his family for doing what they have done to help him get to this point in his career both athletically and academically.

"My parents have pushed me to work hard at everything I do and want to do. They put up with the long hours of practices and the traveling, and I can't thank them enough. They have a stronger work ethic than I could ever think of."

Arburr won't have to hesitate in knowing that his parents Michael and Diane, along with his little sister Sarah will be there in heart and spirit cheering him on from Bristol while he lives his dream of playing professional baseball.

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