SMCC's Bryce Windham closes pro baseball career at age of 27
It was time to come home.
Bryce Windham spent six seasons in minor league baseball, climbing as high as the Triple A level. Twice he went to Major League spring training camp with the Chicago Cubs where he lockered next to players such as Dansby Swanson and Cody Bellinger.
He was one step away from the Major Leagues.
But Monroe was calling him home.
Finally, the draw was too strong.
Windham decided last week to retire from baseball at the age of 27.
“I played baseball for a long time, but it was never my first love,” said the former state player of the year in basketball at St. Mary Catholic Central. “My parents (Randy and Kim Windham) are going to be stepping down from the business (Monroe Sports-Varsity Athletics) in the next few years. It was time for me to come home and start working.”
It also was time to devote more attention to his wife, Annie.
“We’ve been together for four years now and married almost a year,” he said. “We were apart for half of the year, every year.
“Everybody wants me home, but she would have let me stay if I wanted to. I can’t say enough good things about her. She stayed home while I was playing and took care of the house and the dog. I give her all the credit.”
Windham walks away from baseball in the midst of one of his finest seasons as a pro.
He hit .260 with 25 runs and 20 RBI in 68 games with the Iowa Cubs of the International League.
“I had 17 doubles this year compared to nine last year and 10 stolen bases compared to four,” he said.
Windham displayed incredible versatility, playing every position except shortstop or pitcher in the minors.
Cubs management told him several times that he was one injury away from the major leagues, but he never got the call.
When he was still in Iowa following last week’s MLB trade deadline, Windham decided it was time to pack up and come home.
“I was hoping to be involved in some kind of trade, especially coming home to a team like the Tigers,” he said. “I asked for my release, but they told me, ‘No, you are too good of a player for us to just let you go.’”
So, despite of a good chance of playing with the Cubs for a few games when MLB rosters are expanded in September, Windham chose to retire.
“I feel very accomplished in my baseball career,” he said. “Getting a cup of coffee in the majors wouldn’t fulfil my career any more than it is now.
“I was knocking on the door of the big leagues. If I had continued with my baseball career, I can probably guarantee that I would have played in the big leagues at some point.”
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Windham finishes with a career average of .261 in the minors with 54 doubles, 7 triples, 10 home runs, 131 RBI, 150 runs and 23 stolen bases.
“I was a 32nd-round draft pick,” he said. “I am proud of making it to the Triple A level and having a lot of success at that level. It’s a testament to kids that even though you are a low draft pick, if you work hard, anything is possible.”
The former football, basketball and baseball standout at SMCC says he will miss the routine of games and practices almost every day.
“I’ve been an athlete for 20-some years,” he said. “I’ve always had sport to go play. The competitor in me loves sports and loves competing.”
Some of that void will be filled by coaching.
He has served as an assistant to his father with SMCC’s boys basketball team the past few years and says he may help out his mother this fall with the Kestrel volleyball team.
“I am excited to coach the kids,” he said. “I love teach kids. I am super grateful to play baseball to get more knowledge about sports as a whole. I’ve been to big league camp twice. I’ve seen how $100-million athletes prepare.
“I’ll help in any way I can. Monroe has a special place in my heart when it comes to sports. I like to do my part and give back to the younger generation.”
And if that younger generation asks about his time playing baseball, Windham will be happy to answer.
“I am zero ashamed of my career,” he said.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: SMCC's Bryce Windham closes pro baseball career at age of 27
