Knee injury ends Preikszas' career
Downingtown resident released by Brewers
The (Coatesville) Daily Record/May 20, 1992
By Christopher Six
The (Coatesville) Daily Record
COATESVILLE -- It is every Little Leaguer's dream and for one year, it was reality to Downingtown High School graduate Dave Preikszas.
Last June, after a standout season at Miami University of Ohio, Dave was drafted during the sixth round of the Major League free agent draft by the American League's Milwaukee Brewers.
He left Chester County for mini-camp and was assigned to play rookie ball in Helena, Montana, Milwaukee's short-season Pioneer League affiliate.
After struggling early while learning to adjust to the wooden bat, Preikszas was sidelined later in his rookie year with a knee injury and had a sub-par season, hitting less than .200 for most of the season and not displaying the power he had shown in college.
But, he left for Arizona and spring training with the Brewers' minor league organizations this past February with renewed hopes, injured the knee again and was released.
"The knee was a spring training injury," said Preikszas. "I went to a doctor in Arizona and two days later I was released. The Brewers are paying for the surgery, but I'm no longer affiliated with them.
"It started buckling, and then it started to hurt sitting, standing, climbing the stairs and getting on the bus," he continued. "It may have been a gradual injury but the final damage was done at spring training.
"The injury developed over a period of time , starting in my college days," Preikszas added. "Playing on it six-to-eight hours a day at spring training pushed it over the limit.:
Preikszas finds himself playing his baseball these days for the Red Men in the West Chester Adult Baseball League, but still has the memories of one professional season to hold on to.
"I struggled early in the season, and then I went up and down for a while, but I ended strong," said Preikszas.
The decision to turn pro was not an easy decision for Dave, who graduated with a degree in Engineering and Physics and had to weigh baseball against graduate school.
In the end, baseball won out.
"I'm really considering grad school, and this fall I'm applying to a couple of area schools," said Preikszas. "I'm also interviewing for a full-time job. I'm getting married and I'm trying to put some money away.
The lefthanded Preikszas had been an All-American Conference outfielder and received All-Academic all-conference honors at Miami.
During his senior season, he led the conference in home runs with 12, had 50 RBI, 16 steals and a .613 slugging percentage -- all with an aluminum bat.
He was drafted by the Brewers to be a number one or number two hitter with speed and power at the top of the order, but the trouble adjusting to wood paid a heavy toll.
In early August, Dave was hitting just .198 with four home runs in just 27 games.
But, that was then.
"It was suggested that I try and make another team, but I can't play every day," said Preikszas. "The Brewers' insurance will cover it now. I don't want to find myself being the only one to pay for the surgery.
"I want to see how the surgery goes; arthroscopic surgery receovery is pretty good. I'd play if there was a realistic chance to make the bigs, but although it would be fun to play a couple of years in the minors, it would not be realistic financially."
Downingtown resident released by Brewers
The (Coatesville) Daily Record/May 20, 1992
By Christopher Six
The (Coatesville) Daily Record
COATESVILLE -- It is every Little Leaguer's dream and for one year, it was reality to Downingtown High School graduate Dave Preikszas.
Last June, after a standout season at Miami University of Ohio, Dave was drafted during the sixth round of the Major League free agent draft by the American League's Milwaukee Brewers.
He left Chester County for mini-camp and was assigned to play rookie ball in Helena, Montana, Milwaukee's short-season Pioneer League affiliate.
After struggling early while learning to adjust to the wooden bat, Preikszas was sidelined later in his rookie year with a knee injury and had a sub-par season, hitting less than .200 for most of the season and not displaying the power he had shown in college.
But, he left for Arizona and spring training with the Brewers' minor league organizations this past February with renewed hopes, injured the knee again and was released.
"The knee was a spring training injury," said Preikszas. "I went to a doctor in Arizona and two days later I was released. The Brewers are paying for the surgery, but I'm no longer affiliated with them.
"It started buckling, and then it started to hurt sitting, standing, climbing the stairs and getting on the bus," he continued. "It may have been a gradual injury but the final damage was done at spring training.
"The injury developed over a period of time , starting in my college days," Preikszas added. "Playing on it six-to-eight hours a day at spring training pushed it over the limit.:
Preikszas finds himself playing his baseball these days for the Red Men in the West Chester Adult Baseball League, but still has the memories of one professional season to hold on to.
"I struggled early in the season, and then I went up and down for a while, but I ended strong," said Preikszas.
The decision to turn pro was not an easy decision for Dave, who graduated with a degree in Engineering and Physics and had to weigh baseball against graduate school.
In the end, baseball won out.
"I'm really considering grad school, and this fall I'm applying to a couple of area schools," said Preikszas. "I'm also interviewing for a full-time job. I'm getting married and I'm trying to put some money away.
The lefthanded Preikszas had been an All-American Conference outfielder and received All-Academic all-conference honors at Miami.
During his senior season, he led the conference in home runs with 12, had 50 RBI, 16 steals and a .613 slugging percentage -- all with an aluminum bat.
He was drafted by the Brewers to be a number one or number two hitter with speed and power at the top of the order, but the trouble adjusting to wood paid a heavy toll.
In early August, Dave was hitting just .198 with four home runs in just 27 games.
But, that was then.
"It was suggested that I try and make another team, but I can't play every day," said Preikszas. "The Brewers' insurance will cover it now. I don't want to find myself being the only one to pay for the surgery.
"I want to see how the surgery goes; arthroscopic surgery receovery is pretty good. I'd play if there was a realistic chance to make the bigs, but although it would be fun to play a couple of years in the minors, it would not be realistic financially."