‘I never looked back’: Aaron Meyer’s transition to coaching

By: Carson Field

As Aaron Meyer watched the Braves take batting practice before their tilt with Falmouth on July 28, he mused over his intricate relationship with the game of baseball. In a span of 27 months, he went from playing the “child’s game” to managing it in the most prestigious summer league in the world. 

Just two years ago, Meyer was a reliable infielder for Missouri State, one of college baseball’s premier mid-major programs. But, in his senior season, Meyer sustained a career-ending knee injury. 

While this speed bump restricted him from playing baseball ever again, it allowed Meyer to pursue another venture within the sport: coaching. That ultimately brought him to Bourne, Massachusetts, where he would serve as an assistant for the summer of 2019. 

“The love for the game made me want to do this,” Meyer said. “That’s what led me to where I am today. 

“I never looked back at it; it’s awesome.”

That game against Falmouth, a 5-3 win, Meyer served as the acting manager, due to Harvey Shapiro’s induction into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame. The Braves won their first game since Thursday, and they also snapped an 11-game Falmouth winning streak. 

Sunday marked one of Meyer’s first opportunities to lead a clubhouse at any level. This signature victory over the Commodores was memorable for the 24-year-old assistant. 

“Tonight was awesome,” Meyer said. “They’ve got some good guys, but our guys were just relentless at the plate.

“It was a great experience.”

Prior to his arrival on the Cape, Meyer worked as an assistant coach for his alma mater, Missouri State, the past two seasons. His official title with the Bears was graduate manager. 

Yearning to enhance his resume, Meyer accepted an assistant-coaching position with the Braves in the offseason. With just four games left in the regular season, Meyer said he has made the most of his time on Cape Cod. 

“It’s been a blast,” Meyer said. “Working with these guys, day in and day out, you learn different things. It’s fun to work with them for sure.”

Just two years removed from his college graduation, Meyer is among the youngest coaches in the entire league. But that doesn’t minimize his impact on the Braves and his fellow coaches. 

According to the staff, Meyer’s baseball knowledge and dedication make him a valuable asset.  

“Aaron’s unbelievable,” assistant coach Quinn Stebbins said. “We’ll show up hours before the game and just talk about baseball and work on the field.”

As a recent college graduate from a well-known Division I program, Meyer possesses another crucial attribute: being relatable to players. Second baseman Jake MacKenzie, who hit two home runs in the win over Falmouth, can attest to this. 

“He’s a great game manager, and we just love having him because he’s a player’s guy,” MacKenzie said. “We know Aaron’s got a lot of experience coming from a good school, and he’s had success translating it into coaching.”

Ultimately, Meyer hopes this summer serves as a stepping stone to his end goal — becoming the head coach of a Division I baseball program. 

“That’s been my dream since my freshman year of college,” Meyer said. “I love working with guys, I love teaching guys. Not only creating better baseball players, helping people along the way.”

Baseball has been instilled in Meyer’s blood since the day he was born. His father, Lee, played collegiately and later coached. So did his grandfather, Paul. As his love for baseball increased, so did Meyer’s desire to perpetuate the family’s practice. 

At only 24 years old, Meyer has plenty of time to turn his ambitions into reality. If Stebbins has any idea, Meyer will quickly climb the ladder. 

“He’s just got the work ethic for it,” Stebbins said. “He just loves the game, and that’s what it takes.”