The Iowa native left home, venturing, solo, into the real world to pursue his chosen career path.
The Iowa native left home, venturing, solo, into the real world to pursue his chosen career path.
He was 14 years old.
You’ve got to have a pretty strong belief in your abilities as a ballplayer to do what Sean Gamble did a few years back.
It was, well, a gamble.
But his time refining his versatile profile at IMG Academy has him here, on the precipice of a professional career.
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This is what Gamble, an 18-year-old second baseman and center fielder ranked No. 23 on MLB Pipeline’s 2025 Draft Prospects list, envisioned for himself when he bid adieu to Des Moines to move to Bradenton, Fla.
“Probably my first week there, I got home sick,” Gamble said at the MLB Draft Combine. “One day, I’m sleeping in my own bed at home, and the next day I’m 2,000 miles away from home, with no friends, no family, in a small dorm. So the reality hit me. But it helped me mature and become independent and helped me become a man. So I’m very thankful for it.”
Gamble has grown as a person and a player. He’s gained strength, showed control of the zone, a knack for finding the barrel and above-average speed. He’s proven athletic enough to handle big assignments in the middle of the diamond, be it center field or second base. Some scouts think he could play shortstop long-term.
A Vanderbilt commit, Gamble portrays the kind of confidence one must have to take such a bold leap of faith at 14.
“I originally went to IMG for tennis camp [at around 8 years old],” he said. “But while I was there, I realized that they had baseball. So I tapped my parents on the shoulder and said, ‘Next time, I’m coming for baseball camp.’ And I continued to come each summer, and they kept inviting me back, and the opportunity presented itself for me to go there for my freshman year.”
Having proven himself against elite competition at events like the Area Code Games and USA baseball’s 18U National Team Camp, it’s safe to say Gamble has made the most of the opportunity.
“I just think I’ve attacked every day,” he said. “I think I’ve been passionate about my work every single day. I think I’ve become a very good leader and responsible person, on and off the field. Someone that somebody else could trust.”
In a sport that increasingly values versatility and athleticism, Gamble’s skillset — not unlike that of breakout Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong — stands out.
As does his assertiveness. When asked what area of his life off the field he would rate an “80” — the top grade on the scouting scale — Gamble said, “Talking.” His contact rate is as strong with the eyes as it is with the bat, and he’ll tell anybody who will listen that baseball is where he belongs.
“It’s just the love of the game,” he said. “The teammate aspect, the leadership aspect, the dedication that you have to have to your work to become successful in the game. This is what I want my career to be. It’s what I want to do long-term.”
And after leaving home at 14, he’s ready to move again to take the next step.
“I’m definitely prepared,” he said.
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