7 questions with...Giants big-leaguer and Beaumont native Ford Proctor

Ford Proctor's path to Major League Baseball couldn't have occurred without Kelly Catholic High School. 

The former Bulldogs baseball player turned San Francisco Giant credits his high school days for helping form his current professional career. 

On Saturday, Proctor returned to Beaumont for a special ceremony at Kelly Catholic. Friends, family, former teammates and coaches all gathered at the team's baseball field as Kelly's program officially retired Proctor's No. 9 high school jersey. 

After the ceremony, the Enterprise met with Proctor to discuss his high school days, his path to professional baseball and what comes next. 

Q: You got a bit emotional during your speech. What was going through your mind during the ceremony?

A: I didn't see that coming, but that shows how special this place is. The people here really make it that way. So many good memories. To have family, friends, loved ones here, it made it emotional. This is an awesome thing and I'm humbled to be a part of it. 

Q: When you were in high school, did you ever think it would be possible to have your jersey retired? 

A: When you play around here, you see jerseys retired on the center field walls at other high schools. It's not something that I ever anticipated happening, but obviously it's something that I worked for and strived for. Now to have that be my jersey retired on the outfield wall is something I will always cherish. 

Q: Take us through the process of getting to professional baseball and your experience so far?

A: You get drafted and you kind of think that it's going to be all glitz and glamor right out of the gate. Then you figure out pretty quickly that's not necessarily the case. You start in short season A or rookie ball and the big leagues is a long way away. Then once you get to the big leagues, you realize it's very hard to stay. It's a non-stop grind. It's hard but I love it. That's what makes it worth it. 

Q: In one of your first games with the San Francisco Giants, you hit a grand slam for your first-career homer. What was that moment like? 

A: I don't remember much. Just to do that, it's something you dream of as a kid. The teammates that I had there were awesome in the moment and celebrating with them and my family. They were all excited and I know how much it meant (to my family). 

Q: Do you stay in communication with former teammates and coaches here? 

A: Yes absolutely. A lot of these guys that I went to school with here, I've known for my whole life. Whether I talk to them a lot on the phone or not, when I see them, it's like we are still kids again. Those relationships go very deep. All my roots are here. This area and the Kelly Catholic community will always have a special place in my heart. You don't run out of great people around here. 

Q: What advice do you have for young players trying to reach the professional level. 

A: Just keep working hard and don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something. Someone has to beat the odds, so why not you? It's a dream and you never really know it you can do it, but you believe in yourself. To see guys like Jay Bruce from Beaumont whose been a mentor to me, and Mark Petkovsek who went to school here and made it to the big leagues, they've made the path for guys like me. I want to pass that along to kids growing up now. 

Q: What's next for you this season? When do you rejoin the team? 

A: I head out in a few weeks to Arizona for spring training. Really looking forward to getting back to work the guys. I report on Feb. 15, then it all starts again this season.