Minnesota Twins Pitcher is a Substitute Teacher in Offseason

Minnesota Twins pitcher Alex Meyer, 23, spends his offseason as a substitute teacher in Greensburg, Indiana. The pay is only $63 a day, but he says the position gives him a sense of purpose.

‘Being able to be a substitute teacher puts me in a real-life atmosphere and lets me know if this is something I really want to do or not,’ he said. ‘So far, it is.’

The Washington Nationals picked him in the first round in the 2011 draft and traded him to the Twins a year ago. His contract is worth $2 million, but subbing gives him experience in case he has a short career.

‘Hopefully, I’m able to play baseball and have a nice, long career,’ Meyer said. ‘But you never know what’s going to happen with that. So you’ve always got to be able to have something on the ready.’

His mother is the secretary for the superintendent and suggested the job when he complained of boredom during the offseason. He has subbed for elementary, junior high and high school teachers. His old baseball coach Scott Moore laughs when he sees Meyer sitting on the small kindergarten chairs. Meyer said it was junior high kids who are the toughest to teach because they will “walk all over you.”