Jake Cuffman

This is part of a continuing series of articles spotlighting former Butler County area athletes and what they are doing now.

PINE TWP — Sitting at home watching a Major League Baseball game on TV, Jake Cuffman couldn't get the idea out of his head.

“I'd look at the pitchers, what they had on the ball and it was like ... I know I can do that,” Cuffman said.

That was two years after his own professional pitching career ended. A Butler graduate, Cuffman was a 14th-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Pirates out of high school in 2003.

He spent six years in the Pirate organization, advancing as far as high Class A, before his baseball career ended after a few weeks of extended spring training in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

“It took a while for me to give up the dream deep inside,” Cuffman admitted. “I mean, you get drafted by a big league team, you envision making all kinds of money and playing in the major leagues ... All of a sudden, you're released and everything's gone.

“You're starting your life all over again, just like that. It's scary. It was hard to take. It's hard to let go.”

Cuffman was 24 when he was released. He went on to attend Slippery Rock University for four years, getting a degree in health administration.

The Pirates paid for his college education.

“That stipulation was in my contract,” he said. “The one regret I have is that I didn't go to college before trying professional baseball. But it all worked out in the end.”

Cuffman, now 34, is employed by Stryker, a medical company in California, but is based in Western Pennsylvania and lives in the Pine-Richland area. And he is back in baseball.

He coaches 10-year-old son Mason's Brad-Mar Pine baseball team. His son has been playing baseball since age 5.

Cuffman is married to the former Andrea Rosellini, also from Butler. His wife is also working in the medical field, but for UPMC.

Cuffman's sister-in-law, Annie, was 2013 Miss Pennsylvania.

“I know a lot of parents push their kids to go as far as they can in sports,” Cuffman said. “I learned first-hand just how hard it is and how miniscule the chances are of making a career out of playing baseball.

“I just want to make sure my son has fun playing baseball with his buddies, that he enjoys the experience. He can play for as many years as he wants. That's up to him.”

The Cuffman's also have a daughter, 4-year-old Blair, who is already playing soccer.

“She could be the athlete,” Cuffman said, laughing. “She's almost as tall as our son now ... It's crazy.”

While Cuffman didn't reach the big leagues, he does own a big accomplishment.

“I was drafted out of high school and that's pretty rare around here,” he said. “Matt Clement and myself are the only two I can think of who were picked in the major league draft as seniors at Butler over a lot of years.

“When my head hits the pillow at night, I knew my stuff was good enough. My command wasn't good enough. I never had it. That's what did me in.

“I'm just thankful that I had a shot. And I'm very thankful for what I have today,” Cuffman added.