Against the Odds: The Road from Cedarville to the Minor Leagues

By Emily Tuttle

As a 5-foot, 6 inch high schooler in Georgia, Payton Eeles worried he would not have any offers to play collegiate baseball. Like any kid, he dreamed of playing in the MLB, but his undersized stature hindered him. 

Hundreds of miles away in New York, Tanner Gillis was cut from his high school baseball team as a freshman and then again as a junior. Defeated, Gillis wondered if he should even continue playing baseball. Like Eeles, he aspired to be in the major leagues, but with no offers out of high school, that ambition seemed more like a childish dream. 

Coach Mike Manes at Cedarville University found Eeles through a Bible study with Eeles’s pastor and saw something special in the recruit. 

Gillis’ brother, Trace, was playing baseball at a junior college when Trace received a call from Manes. To the whole family’s surprise, Manes wanted both boys to visit the small school in Ohio. 

Manes saw Tanner’s potential before he had played a minute of varsity baseball. 

“The fact that I had a chance to play college baseball meant the world to me,” Gillis said.

These unexpected opportunities led Eeles and Gillis to major league organizations today. 

Eeles signed with the Minnesota Twins organization in May 2024 and plays Triple-A ball for the St. Paul Saints, a minor league affiliate. Gillis signed with the Milwaukee Brewers organization in September 2024 and practiced with an affiliate team before joining a team next season. 

Without the Lord’s guidance at Cedarville University, those dreams would never have come true.

While at Cedarville, Eeles’ success put him on the map. He played second base and shortstop, and his game kept improving. In his junior year, Eeles started all 40 scheduled games and led the team in base hits, runs scored and stolen bases. He wanted to prove that a professional player could come from a Division II school like Cedarville.

But because of COVID-19, the selections in the MLB draft were cut in half—from 40 rounds to 20. Eeles was not drafted, although he knew he had the talent to play at the next level.

“A lot of these teams weren’t willing to take a risk on an undersized D2 player even though I had the skills and abilities,” Eeles said.

So he kept working.

Granted a fifth year of eligibility because of COVID-19, Eeles needed to improve his game. He transferred to Division I powerhouse Coastal Carolina.

Eeles transferred to advance his baseball career, taking time to weigh this important decision and getting advice from coaches and friends. 

“At the end of the day, Cedarville is where I always remember my college career at,” Eeles said. “Playing with those guys, playing with those coaches, I had some of the best memories there.” 

These memories formed between roommates and teammates, Eeles and Gillis. 

“Growing with my friends in an environment where we could deepen our faith and also become better athletes and better people in general was just a huge blessing,” Gillis said.

Gillis also gained two extra years of eligibility because of an elbow injury and COVID-19. He spent five years at Cedarville but challenged himself in his sixth year; the pitcher transferred to Northern Kentucky University.

Eeles showed Gillis that a Cedarville player could compete in Division I. These friends formed a bond that continues past their time as teammates. 

But after graduating and not being drafted, Eeles and Gillis struggled to determine their next steps. 

“There was a lot of times in my life where I’m like, ‘Okay, this is finally where it’s going to happen,’ and then it just doesn’t,” Eeles said. “You go from being so high to being low.”

Persisting, he decided to play independent baseball with the Chicago Dogs, a professional team not affiliated with the MLB.

Eeles improved while playing independent ball but still did not get promoted. He knew he had the talent but wondered if he would ever have the chance to prove it. 

“Every day I would be praying, ‘God, I just need one opportunity, I just need one team to take a chance on me,’” Eeles said.

He gave himself one more year to make it to the league. After dedicating his life to the sport, he thought it might be his last year playing baseball.

But six games into his season with a new independent team, the phone finally rang. And this time, it was the Minnesota Twins. 

“To be honest, it didn’t feel real,” Eeles said.

He had been waiting his entire life for this opportunity, and after years, it had finally come. 

“I only had one choice, and that was to play every game to the best of my ability,” Eeles said.

His effort and talent soon allowed him to climb the minor league ranks to play for the St. Paul Saints, a Triple-A team one step away from the majors. 

Because of Eeles’ influence, Gillis also chose to play in an independent league, where he played for a month before the Brewers called with his chance.

Both underdogs from a small D2 had made it.

Looking back on their journeys, Eeles and Gillis have learned the importance of timing.

When Eeles played at the lower levels, he thought he would get promoted if he had a good week. This mindset only led to disappointment and unmet expectations. Now, he plays to the best of his ability and trusts the Lord for the rest.

“I don’t try to worry about much that is out of my control,” Eeles said.

Eeles and Gillis would not have expected the usefulness of their time in independent leagues. Though it was just a necessary stop on their Major League journey, the men valued the opportunity to play with older teammates and experienced coaches.

“It’s just the way God’s plan works in your life,” Eeles said. “In reality, this is going to be better. You don’t see it now, but sooner or later, it’s going to help you.”

Having spent six years in college, Gillis got to play this veteran role for his underclassmen teammates. 

He wanted to exemplify what it meant to be a student-athlete—a leader on and off the mound.

“Meeting new people and hearing new ideas, getting new advice from coaches was always something I really loved,” Gillis said. “The opportunity to be a role model for some of the younger guys was always something special to me.”

He hopes that younger baseball players, who may lack offers like he did, know the importance of hard work, humility and loyalty. 

“Even when you want to play Division I eventually, or you want to play pro baseball, that doesn’t make you better than anyone else,” Gillis said. “You don’t have to act like you’re better than people just because you have big goals.”

These goals propelled Gillis in his career and made him resilient through setbacks. 

Eeles believes that it does not matter what team you are on or what division you are in. If younger players want to reach their goals, they must work at it daily and chase them continually. 

Eeles said, “My dad always told me: work at it like it’s all up to you, but pray like it’s all up to God.” 

Emily Tuttle is a sophomore journalism major and the sports editor for Cedars. She is passionate about Philly sports, weight lifting, and all things silly. 

Photos courtesy of Payton Eeles