Bringing the Invisible to the Light: What gets Ian Churchill on the mound

Ian Churchill was slumping. It was his fifth year of college and he had just come off one of his worst years as a pitcher at the University of Arizona. He didn’t have much confidence in himself and nor was he having fun at the time, rightfully so. At that point, Churchill was convinced that he wouldn’t play pro-ball and the opportunity passed him by. Just when he thought everything was over, he had an epiphany. 

Churchill figured out that he turned baseball into a job and made it harder for himself by pursuing perfection. That had certainly sapped all the fun for him. After recognizing the root problem, he made a decision. “I realized maybe I should focus on having more fun and try to make the most out of every part of my life,” Churchill said, “Why not get rid of the pressure and focus on having fun and creating relationships and things like that.”

That mindset proved to be a slam dunk for the right-handed pitcher. Things started to come together and became much more meaningful for him. Not taking baseball too seriously helped Churchill appreciate things outside of the sport and competing. That brand new perspective also slowed down the game more and brought more joy into his life. 

“I felt like I was playing baseball like a kid again trying to have as much fun as possible,” Churchill reminisced. “I learned how to approach baseball by trying to do my best and not beating myself up too much.” The right-hander also discovered that focusing on the accomplishments of people around him instead of his own was much more worthwhile.

As soon as Churchill let fun become the most important thing when playing baseball, it gave him the capacity to fully understand what it is to be a part of a team. That attitude allowed him to create positive relationships with people on and off the field and made him appreciate how everyone has a different background and their own stories to tell. 

Churchill’s easy-going but measured approach to the game of baseball brought him closer to his dream of becoming a professional baseball player. What started as a competition against his older brother and the games of T-ball now became something he loved more than anything else. The door to professional baseball opened up to him when the Toronto  Blue Jays drafted him during the tenth round as the 308th overall pick in 2022. 

Now pitching for the Blue Jays’ Double-A affiliate, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, his goal is to help the team win as many games as possible and to do his job. Finding consistency has also been a part of his strategy when he goes out on the mound – he isn’t the type to worry about other stuff since much of it is out of his control. “I try to think as little as possible because that’s when things are going the best,” Churchill said. “I try tunnel vision and focus on pitching. I don’t try to pitch angry or riled up, and I focus more on hitters.”

When asked how he strives to grow and develop his skills, the right-hander said that he always tries to do something a little bit every day, whether it’s at the gym or playing catch. He attempts to learn more about his body every year and how it feels to get in touch with how he can get the best out of his body even when he’s not at his best. “It’s all about adapting to how my body feels at the time instead of the past,” Churchill explained. 

Accepting the inevitable cycle of ups and downs has been ingrained in Churchill’s game now. He emphasized that it’s all about who he is as a person despite the peaks and valleys because he understands that he is more than his outings. He also has a unique way of coping with his own struggles. “When I’m struggling, I try to help someone else as much as I can,” Churchill added. “Focusing on others around me and embracing my teammates’ success make things more enjoyable.

There’s no doubt that baseball shaped so much of the right-hander’s life. “What I get to do is a very cool thing that not a lot of people on earth get to do, and I’m blessed to be doing it,” Churchill said. “Baseball has taught me patience and I don’t take any days or seasons for granted.”

Playing baseball has taught him a ton about perspectives and dealing with failure. That’s how he learned to process so many things outside of baseball and navigate relationships with new people and failures. 

Making his experience as best as possible on and off the field has been one of Churchill’s missions as he hits the road with his team. If anything, he wants people to know that there are many things going on outside of the field for baseball players, just like anyone else. “We are all humans, and there are a lot of guys who are trying their best to compete and make it,” Churchill said. “The public opinion is that there are performance issues when the guy is struggling, but what people need to understand is that that’s just how it goes sometimes.” 

The right-hander has a point when he says that things are so much more complicated than what people see on the field. A lot is going on in baseball players’ lives that has a lot to do with baseball, but also not at the same time. That’s why Churchill and his team appreciate applause, kudos and support from fans even more.

Through highs and lows, Churchill is beyond grateful to be a part of the game and hasn’t lost sight that baseball is awesome. After all, the sport took him to places he would have never gone and helped him meet people he would have never met otherwise. As corny as it sounds, having a genuinely fun time has got the young ambitious pitcher on the incredible journey that he is on now. The fun is only just starting for him now – more will come.