The 40-Year-Old College Baseball Player

On Tuesday, I opened the gates on 10 signed copies of my book to our waitlisters.

And it sold out before noon the same day!

I’m so grateful for all of the support.

Here’s what one waitlister had to say after diving into the first chapter:

Mark your calendar for Friday, March 14th!

Now, let’s get to this week’s story.

In today's edition...

This 40-year-old cancer survivor is doing the last thing you’d expect:

Stepping up to the plate against pitchers half his age.

But why he’s doing it – and how he’s shut down the haters – makes his story unforgettable.

Let’s dive in 👇

This 40-Year-Old College Baseball Player Proves It’s Never Too Late to Chase Your Dream

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"When I share my story, people often look at me like I’m crazy."

Aaron Rouselle never thought he'd be here.

The 40-year-old just kicked off his first season as a student-athlete at Delaware County Community College.

Why now? And why baseball?

For Aaron, it's about challenging himself and showing his three children what's possible.

Over the past 10 years, Rouselle has beaten cancer and survived two liver transplants.

"I should have died in 2015, but here I am."

He still deals with plenty of setbacks.

Weeklong hospital visits are a near-regular occurrence, and it's not uncommon to see his weight drop by 15 pounds or more.

"It may slow me, but I will not stop."

His health battles have put life into perspective.

“I have a choice: I can be a victim or a victor," he said.

"You can rise to the challenge or fall back into excuses. The choice is yours."

Today, his teammates – most of whom are half his age – call him "Uncle Aaron" and look up to him as a mentor.

"These kids are my motivation," he wrote.

"I want to show them that with effort and consistency, they can take their life to new heights.”

But when internet trolls heard about his story, they flooded the replies with hateful comments.

Instead of firing back, Aaron's response spoke volumes about his character.

"Instead of being angry at me, channel that energy into something productive," he wrote.

"Use that fire to work harder, train smarter, and push through your own limits. This journey isn’t just about age; it’s about passion, determination, and the relentless pursuit of dreams."

After rediscovering his love for the game in an over-30 league, Aaron now considers himself a "baseball nerd."

Between his duties in the classroom and as an infielder for the DCCC Phantoms, Aaron also operates Pops Culture, a nonprofit that gives young athletes of all different backgrounds a chance to enjoy their passions and forge meaningful connections.

Last month, I had the privilege of connecting with Aaron through social media.

In our exclusive interview, he shared how he's adjusting to college ball, handling haters, and advice for anyone facing a roadblock on the path to their dreams.

Q&A With a 40-Year-Old College Ballplayer

Tell me a little bit about your athletic background. Is it true that you didn’t start playing baseball until you were 30 years old?

I grew up playing only baseball until I was 13 and moved from Florida to Maryland.

I moved to a town with no room for baseball but had two basketball courts within walking distance of my house.

Basketball came pretty easy to me and fed my ego. I played in high school and in college but found my way back to baseball at 30.

You’ve overcome a lot: beating cancer, enduring two liver transplants, and dealing with a drop foot in your left leg. How have those health issues shaped your mindset in dealing with adversity?

I refuse to let any circumstance dictate my outcome.

It taught me to stop looking for excuses and look for a way.

To make adjustments and develop a higher sports IQ and mental toughness rather than just relying on the physical.

What led to your decision to pursue junior college baseball at age 40? What do you hope to accomplish?

I like to challenge myself. I want to finish my degree, and I am a better student when I have a sport to hold me accountable.

I had eligibility, so I figured, why not?

What better way to lead kids than to go back and get into the mud and train alongside them – having similar goals as them, doing everything with them – instead of just telling them what to do, I am doing it with them.

As we head into the spring season, how has the experience been so far out on the field?

I get to mentor a few teammates. They came to my facility all winter; they look to me for help on the mental side and how to get to the next step in baseball and life.

I had a pretty good fall recording my first hit before being sidelined with pneumonia.

It's been a challenge for sure. The 20-year age gap certainly shows, but what I lack physically I make up for mentally and emotionally, so it evens itself out.

The coaching staff has been incredible. They treat me as if I am another player, which is all I could hope for.

Your announcement tweet generated 500,000 views and inevitably a few critics in the peanut gallery. How do you handle criticism, and what is your response to the haters?

I enjoy it.

Most just complain I am taking someone's spot, so I just tell them: "If your son can't beat me out for a spot, then he doesn't deserve it."

Looking back at your younger self, what advice would you give to someone who feels like they've missed their window of opportunity to pursue a dream?

If you woke up, you have an opportunity to fulfill your dreams – if you're willing to put in the work.

Stop allowing the comfort of life to kill your dreams. Go after it at whatever capacity you can.

As we get older, we all have responsibilities and obligations. But we owe it to ourselves and the people who look up to us to never stop chasing our dreams.

How can our readers support you?

I am all over social.

• X @coachaaronr

• Instagram @coachaaronr

• Facebook just search "Aaron Rouselle" – I am the only one.

I also write often on my blog, DiamondMinds.org.

🐶 

A huge thanks to Aaron for taking the time out of his busy schedule to talk to me. Best of luck this season, and Go Phantoms!

If you enjoyed this one, please consider sharing it with a friend!

Here are two more stories you might also like:

• He Got Cut 3 of 4 Years in High School. Now He’s on the Verge of the Big Leagues.

• After His MLB Career Was Cut Short, Tony Vlahovic Dedicated His Life to Empowering Athletes with Disabilities

What’d you think of today’s story?

Let me know by voting in the poll below 👇

Thanks for reading!

Next time you hear from me, my book will be published and ready to snag on Amazon 🤝 

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌶️ Something cool: Born with cerebral palsy, Drew Davis started a hot sauce company to prove his teacher wrong.

💪 Speaking of proving people wrong, I interviewed a teenager who went from not being able to walk to winning 1st place in a bodybuilding competition.

📕 If you can’t tell, I’m fired up for Friday’s release of my book, The Underdog Mentality: Sports Stories That Will Change How You See The Game (And Yourself). Here’s a countdown timer I’ve had open on my laptop for the past month.

🌟 Trivia Answer: A) Alabama (Bart Starr, Joe Namath, Ken Stabler...no, Jalen Hurts doesn't count since he finished his career at Oklahoma) and Purdue (Len Dawson, Bob Griese, Drew Brees)