Gabe Kapler, the Phillies’ new manager, had a turbulent start to his baseball career before making it to the majors, writes Matt Breen for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Kapler threw away his first chance at college baseball when he got kicked out of Cal State Fullerton before the end of his first semester. His scholarship was yanked after it became obvious he had no interest in attending class.

The embarrassment of having to call his working-class parents with the news made him change his outlook, taking community-college courses before going to Moorpark College.

He approached Mario Porto, then an assistant and now head coach at Moorpark. He introduced himself as a former Taft High player who was supposed to play center field at Cal State Fullerton.

Porto did not put much stock into his story but Kapler impressed enough to make the team as a third baseman. This time, Kapler gave it his all, always showing up at the field early and leaving late.

“You could see in the way that he went about his business that he wasn’t going to let anything get in the way,” said Porto.

Kapler’s dedication paid off, leading him to the majors first as a player for the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and Tampa Bay Rays, then as manager of the Phillies.

Read more about Gabe Kapler in the Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.