How I Built This with Guy Raz Marucci Sports - Kurt Ainsworth
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Dec 16, 2024 
Kurt Ainsworth, a former professional baseball player and co-founder of Marucci Sports, shares his incredible journey from athlete to entrepreneur. After a shoulder injury cut his career short, he and his partners launched a bat company from his backyard. They faced huge challenges, like the NCAA decertifying their bats, but pivoted by expanding into aluminum bats. Their unique marketing strategy, leveraging player relationships, led to Marucci becoming a top competitor and set to be the official bat of Major League Baseball.
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Childhood Inspiration
- Kurt Ainsworth was inspired to become a Major League player by Will Clark, a New Orleans player for the Giants.
- Ainsworth diligently followed Clark's career in the box scores, fueling his ambition despite being smaller than his teammates.
Walk-On and Injury
- Kurt Ainsworth wasn't initially recruited by LSU but walked onto the team and trained his freshman year.
- He then injured his elbow in summer ball, pitching a no-hitter despite severe pain, which worsened the injury.
Injury and Trade
- During the peak of the 2003 season, Kurt Ainsworth suffered a shoulder injury but continued playing until the team discovered a broken shoulder blade.
- While rehabbing, he was abruptly traded to the Baltimore Orioles without a chance to say goodbye to teammates.