Odds were stacked against him, but Scooter Gennett is happy to be Brewers starting second-baseman

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The odds were stacked against Scooter Gennett when it came to making it to the Major Leagues. His size was a big factor working against him -- but the size of his heart and his confidence couldn't be measured. Now, Gennett is the Brewers' starting second-baseman.

Ryan Joseph Gennett accepted teammate Carlos Gomez' playful jab at his 5'10" 170-pound frame at the "Brewers On Deck" event Sunday, January 25th. He's used to it. After all, how many big guys have the nickname Scooter?

Gennett has grown a lot on the field since Spring Training 2012. The 24-year-old turned heads in 2013 when he batted .324 in 69 games while platooning at second base with Rickie Weeks. Last year, the Sarasota, Florida native hit .289 over 137 games. Now, Weeks is gone, and Gennett's the full-time starter at second base.

"Expectations are up. I mean, whoever's out there, if it's me next year, I should be doing a good job. Doing my job -- that's what I expect to do. When it comes to playing every day and facing lefties and stuff like that, I'm looking forward to that. It's been awhile and I can finally get back to my game," Gennett said.

Gennett has made strides on the field, so the million-dollar question from Brewers beat-writer Tom Haudricort -- how tough will it be for the left-hand hitter to be successful facing southpaws on a regular basis?

"Honestly Tom, not very tough. Not that there's bad pitchers in the big leagues -- don't get me wrong. They're very good. It's not easy to hit a baseball, but for me, it doesn't matter which side it's coming from as long as I'm getting consistent at bats," Gennett said.

Gennett says off the field, he lacks confidence a bit more.

"When it comes to baseball, that's my whole life. That's what I do," Gennett said.

Make no mistake, Gennett is confident, but not cocky. As a 16th-round draft choice in 2009, he knows what it took to fulfill his dream of being an everybody Major League player, and he won't take it for granted.

"Honestly, it sounds weird, but even last year I was like 'I don't know if I'm going t make the team,' and I hit .320 the year before, so I think that with that attitude, that constant attitude of going into the season trying to make the team, trying to be healthy, trying to be the best I can be going into the season, that's all I worry about," Gennett said.

Gennett gives a big assist to his parents, who have sacrificed their jobs and their lives to make it possible for him to play baseball.