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NILES - It's 45 minutes before the Mahoning Valley Scrappers are set to conclude a three-game home series against Williamsport. Outfielder Davis Mauzy was all smiles as he emerged from the clubhouse and prepared to go through pregame warmups. Along the way, he signed some autographs, chatted with fans and accommodated an interviewer.
There was a pep to his step as he headed to the outfield, greeted some teammates with a high-five and began tossing baseballs.
The smile never left Mauzy's face.
It was clear he was having the time of his life.
It was also difficult to imagine that not long ago, there was a period of time when Mauzy just didn't have the heart - both literally and figuratively - to play baseball.
As a junior in high school, Mauzy's baseball season was shut down after just three games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mauzy entered the 2020-21 season excited to return to the diamond - a place that he said was his "favorite place on earth" since he was 3-years old.
However, four games into his senior campaign, it was discovered that Mauzy had a heart condition. For a second straight season he was forced to step away from the game.
Mauzy underwent surgery at the University of Utah Children's Hospital. Thanks to the surgery and medication, he was eventually given the "all clear," but he was hesitant about his return to baseball.
"I took a gap year between high school and college, so I basically went three straight spring seasons without playing the game," Mauzy said. "I vividly remember a day I was doing some work in Oregon, and it just struck me that man, I needed to get back in the game. I needed baseball in my life.
"My favorite teacher in high school once told me, 'You have to stick with baseball, it can take you a long way.' That was the first time someone told me that, and it always stuck with me. I kept thinking about that moment and I suddenly had this drive to play Division I and beyond."
In 2023 the Idaho native resumed his baseball career at Blue Mountain Community College (Ore.), where he immediately returned to his old form. He batted .283 as a freshman, then hit .339 and swiped 35 bases as a sophomore.
Mauzy achieved his goal of playing at the Division I level when he transferred to Wichita State for his junior year. This past spring, he concluded his college career with a stellar season at Louisiana Monroe.
At ULM Mauzy started in 54 games. He started the season with a 25-game hitting streak, and finished the season with 78 hits and a .359 batting average. His .979 fielding percentage was among the best in the country.
The impressive senior season led Mauzy to a spot on the Scrappers' second-half roster.
"It's been a grind, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world," Mauzy said. "I've bounced around quite a bit. Baseball has taken me to 20 different states, and now I'm about to add Pennsylvania on the list.
"Every place I've gone, I've had great experiences, I've met some great people and I've seen new things. And along the way I've been able to play high level baseball.
"Now, here I am in the Draft League. Great competition and the coaches here are out of this world. They truly want what's best for us. They are focused on the process of working with us for our future rather than worrying about today. It's a step-by-step process."
Mauzy was a business management major in college, and he plans to return to school to earn his master's degree in business.
For now, he is content with living in the moment, one heartbeat at a time.
"I just want to land a good job, have a good career and take care of my family," Mauzy said. "But right now, I'm chasing a dream, I want to see where this dream takes me."