Hard work at ungodly hours has paid dividends for a University of Cincinnati graduate who's been swinging for the fences and hitting it big. Kerrington Cross, the standout UC Bearcats four-time All-American, has not only excelled on the diamond but also managed to nab a chemical engineering degree, all while working the graveyard shift in a co-op position with beauty giant L'Oreal, according to a profile by The Indianapolis Star shared by UC News.
Cross, whose skills garnered him the title of baseball's Big 12 Player of the Year, hails from Brownsburg, Indiana, a town known for churning out Major League Baseball talent. It seems Cross is on deck to join the ranks of local baseball legends such as Tucker Barnhart, Lance Lynn, and Drew Storen. With the Major League Baseball draft looming this weekend, the anticipation for Cross's bright future in pro ball is, undoubtedly, at a fever pitch.
The University of Cincinnati's innovative co-op program, from which Cross benefited, alternates between full-time academics and full-time employment, providing students with a practical taste of their future careers. Cross utilized this opportunity to its full extent, balancing his demanding baseball schedule with late-night shifts at L'Oreal's round-the-clock manufacturing site in Florence, Kentucky, a choice that shows a level of commitment and discipline that's nothing short of impressive.
"It is a dream, but at the same time it's what I've always wanted to do, and I don't want to just settle on hearing my name called," Cross told the IndyStar in a statement obtained by UC News. "I want to make it all the way and give it my all until I'm done." This mix of humility and ambition seems to be a running theme with Cross, who is likely to capture more than just the attention of baseball scouts in his journey from college engineering whiz and baseball sensation to, perhaps, the Major League's next big star.
