When Blaine Crim first stepped onto Frierson Field at Mississippi College in 2015, he never imagined that one day he'd be standing under the lights of Fenway Park or hearing 40,000 fans roar in San Diego. Six years after his final swing in Choctaw Blue and Gold, Crim has lived that dream — twice.
 
After making his long-awaited Major League Baseball debut with the Texas Rangers earlier this season, Crim returned to "The Show" as a member of the Colorado Rockies, finishing the 2025 campaign in Denver and officially etching his name among the few who've made it from Mississippi College to the big leagues.
 
"It's been an absolute mental roller coaster," Crim said, reflecting on his first full season in the majors. "There were some really high highs and some low lows, but looking back, I'm just super happy with how it went. It's been a dream come true. I didn't always think it would happen, so to be here now — it's surreal."
 
A Roller Coaster Ride to the Bigs

Crim's professional journey has been anything but straightforward. Drafted by the Rangers in 2019, he spent parts of three seasons in Triple-A Round Rock, wondering at times if the call would ever come.
 
"You get drafted and you dream of the big leagues," Crim said. "But there were moments I looked in the mirror and asked myself, 'Am I really as good as I think I am?' Getting DFA'd was a gut punch. But honestly, for some guys, it's the best thing that ever happens to them. Hopefully, I'm one of those guys."
 
When the Colorado Rockies claimed him, Crim approached his fresh start with a new mindset.
 
"With the Rangers, I tried to do too much," he admitted. "With the Rockies, I told myself, just be the best version of me. If that's not good enough, fine — but at least I won't have any regrets."
 
That perspective shift paid off. In San Diego, under the bright lights of Petco Park, Crim finally had his "I made it" moment.
 
"There were 40,000 people there, it was loud, and I hit a homer," he said, smiling. "After the game, sitting in my hotel room, I just thought, 'Wow, I'm really here.' It was special."
 
Lessons in the Game and in Life
For Crim, baseball has been as much about personal growth as it has been about performance.
 
"Nothing's deserved, and life's not fair," he said candidly. "Baseball puts you in some low places. You deal with failure every day, and it tests you. But if you can be the best version of yourself, even when it's hard, you can go to bed at night with peace."
 
Crim credits veteran teammates — like Matt Duffy, Andrew Knapp, and Tucker Barnhart — for teaching him how to handle the grind of professional baseball.
 
"They showed me that everyone struggles," he said. "You're not special because you're going through it. Deal with it and move forward."
 
Heart for the Game — and the People
While Crim's power at the plate has turned heads, it's his humility and kindness that have left a lasting impression on fans and teammates. After games, even in the tough stretches, he often lingered to sign autographs for kids.
 
"I was once that kid," Crim said. "If I can make a kid's night, I'm going do it. Even if I'm 0-for-4, I'll take five minutes to sign a ball. You never know what that means to them. I just want people to see that baseball players are normal people."
 
That mindset, he says, comes from his roots — and from the relationships built at Mississippi College.
 
A Foundation Built in Clinton
Crim was a staple for the Choctaws from 2015–2019, earning Gulf South Conference Player of the Year honors and helping lead MC to its first-ever GSC Championship in 2018. But when he talks about his college years, his memories extend far beyond the stat sheets.
 
"The relationships — that's what stands out," Crim said. "We were a family. I loved showing up early to hang out in the locker room. I met my wife, Katie, here. I'd trade almost anything to relive those four years with the same group of guys."
 
Even now, representing Mississippi College and Division II baseball in the majors carries deep meaning for him.
 
"I have a lot of pride in saying I went to Mississippi College," he said. "Most people have never heard of it, and that's okay — I love telling them about it. There are good players at this level. I'll never hesitate to say where I came from."
 
Advice to the Next Generation
Asked what message he'd give to current Choctaws, Crim didn't hesitate.
 
"Enjoy it," he said. "You only get four years, and it flies by. Don't take it for granted. Play for your teammates, not for yourself. You don't have to try too hard — just be a good person, play the game the right way, and you won't have regrets."
 
And if he could talk to his freshman self?
 
"I'd tell him, 'Hey bro, you're not going be a doctor,'" he laughed. "But I'd also tell him, it's going happen. You don't know how yet, but just keep grinding. There were times I didn't believe it — but it worked out."
 
From Frierson to the Majors
Crim hasn't forgotten where he came from. Whether he's hitting homers in Coors Field or walking the same weight room he used in Clinton, he carries Mississippi College with him.
 
"I walk back into that locker room and it feels the same," he said. "Same benches, same field. It's crazy to think about how far it's all come."
 
From small-school beginnings to baseball's biggest stage, Blaine Crim's story is one of perseverance, humility, and gratitude — a reminder to every young player that dreams are still possible, even if the road there takes a few extra innings.