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NILES -- Mahoning Valley Scrappers infielder Cayden Evans recently completed his senior year at Columbus State University, where he majored in Business.
True to his major, Evans is currently involved in a pair of businesses at once.
Evans recently opened his own business, Sippin' Pretty Loaded Tea, a Florida-based mobile business that offers nutritional tea infused with caffeine, herbs and vitamins.
"Me and my girlfriend came up with the idea. She worked at a nutrition store for about three years, so we teamed up," Evans said. "She's running things right now. We set up at local workout places, at the beach, places like that. We officially opened a few weeks ago and sold a few hundred the first day.
"I've always been interested in business. In middle school I was selling fidget spinners out of my locker, though I didn't have any permits or anything like that so I'm not sure it qualified as a legitimate business."
As for Evans' other ongoing business?
Well, that would be the business of baseball.
"Actually, I don't necessarily view baseball as a business right now," Evans said. "I mean, baseball definitely can be a business, but I don't feel like I'm at that point just yet. I'm not making any baseball decisions based on the business end of it. I'm just taking it day by day and enjoying the moment. I love playing this game."
Evans was born and lived in Cincinnati for the first 16 years of his life. He attended Ross High School through his sophomore year before his family moved to St. Petersburg, Fla. He finished his high school career at Northeast High School, attended a junior college for two years, then spent his final two years of college at Columbus State University in Georgia.
Evans says his move to Florida proved to be "a difference-maker" that helped propel his baseball career.
"There's good competition everywhere. There's great talent in Ohio," Evans said. "But baseball down south is just different. Moving down to Florida where they play baseball 365 days a year, I realized right away I had a lot of catching up to do. And suddenly I'm on the field with Jac Caglianon (Kansas City Royals), Elijah Green (Washington Nationals) and guys like that. It was eye-opening.
"My brother coaches high school baseball up here. Their best pitcher throws maybe 85. I seriously can't remember a time in high school when I faced under 85. There were scouts at every game. It's very high level in Florida and it one-hundred percent got me ready for the next level."
In high school, Evans posted a .380 career batting average, including a .430 mark in his senior season. At CSU, he played in 104 games with a two-year average of .350.
Through six games with the Scrappers, Evans was batting .375.
"I'm so excited to have this opportunity to play pro ball with and against some of the best of the best," Evans said. "Alabama, Arizona, California are all represented here. The facilities are top-notch, and they treat us awesome. It's been like a brotherhood since I stepped on the field.
"Coming from a Division II school to this, I went from facing 88 miles per hour to 92, 93, 94 every day. This is the real thing in terms of trying to reach that next level."
Though listed on the Scrappers' roster as an infielder, Evans says he sees himself "more as a utility guy" and is willing to take the field wherever needed. He began his career as a shortstop, then moved over to third base before settling in at first. With the Scrappers, he has played first base, the outfield and has also been in the lineup as a designated hitter."
"I'll play wherever I am needed," Evans said. "I really believe that with a lot of practice and development I can play anywhere."
For now, Evans says he is simply grateful for the opportunity to play with the Scrappers.
"I am so blessed. God has been so good to me," Evans said. "I can't be more thankful. I'm going to make the best of this opportunity, and we'll see where it goes from here."