Returning to college baseball after a seven-year hiatus can be impractical, and returning as a veteran and single father of two can be nearly impossible. Fortunately, that is not the case for Vikings’ outfielder AJ Quezada.
Since his childhood days at Dodger Stadium with his father, the love for baseball became instilled in his life. When high school baseball came to a close, Quezada set out to continue playing the sport he describes as his first love in college.
Athletic scholarships from years and dedication to baseball granted him the opportunity to attend the University of Antelope Valley.
It was only a month into pursuing higher education that his goals and aspirations had to come to a conclusion. He came to discover that he was going to be a father with his previous partner. “I kind of moved back home, tried to figure out things at home…things just didn’t work out so that’s when I ended up going to the Navy,” Quezada revealed.
Enlisting in the United States Navy for four years allowed for stability and security in his life, which was necessary for his new reality. Quezada was transparent about the difficulties that came with leaving behind his loved ones, including his son.
However, the military allowed him to expand his scope of the world, taking him to places like Chile, Argentina, Brazil and multiple places around the U.S. where he worked as a culinary specialist. Quezada worked daily, putting in 16-hour shifts until the end of his enlistment contract.
It was during these four years that he came to father another child, a baby girl. Quezada does not fail to mention how significant this was for him, saying “My daughter came out of my time in the military, so I’m for sure grateful for that.”
Quezada returned to civilian life as a single father of two who needed to continue to provide for himself and his family. With the support of veteran services and surrounding loved ones, the possibility to further his education and return to the sport he loved became a possibility.
He doubted the decision to become a student again, thinking it may be selfish to do so. “I was just talking myself down a lot,” Quezada said. The mothers of his children were amongst his top supporters, encouraging him to attend school. They validated that returning to college was the correct choice, telling him that his children know he is doing this for himself and their future.
Utilizing the Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program, VRRAP, Quezada was able to get housing and tuition assistance to enroll in LBCC. The program caters to veterans who seek education and training programs for in-demand jobs.
“I came back (to college) for the sport and then, of course, the benefits of school,” Quezada said.
Working towards an Associate’s degree in kinesiology and being a part of the LBCC baseball team are only a few of Quezada’s current goals and responsibilities. Before being able to return, he didn’t think he’d ever play baseball again. “I never thought I’d be playing again and that’s the honest truth,” he stated.
It was a long seven years before he became a part of a school team again. Being older than he was before, Quezada feels as if he needs to catch up with everybody else but is certain that he is capable of doing so. His determination is apparent.
With the playoffs coming up and the Vikings poised to make a deep run, there is no doubt the end of the season will do anything to prevent Quezada from playing.
Today, Quezada maintains a stable relationship with his family, friends and teammates and has returned to his first love, baseball. He hopes to pass down his love for the sport to his own children as his father did for him.