While he may be brushing shoulders with the big leaguers by day, Birtwell lives a true rookie’s life by night, staying in a dorm room with an 11:30 curfew.

“It’s unusual that you play baseball all your life and then you reach a certain level and you’re a rookie,” Birtwell said. “It’s a lonely lifestyle. I made the choice to play ball. But I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow.”

With all that is uncertain in Birtwell’s new career, a little dose of familiarity last winter went a long way. In the weeks prior to Tigers training camp, Birtwell volunteered to assist Harvard Coach Joe Walsh with the Crimson’s winter practices. Birtwell was anxious to help his former teammates prepare for the season, but more than anything, he wanted to relive their experience.

“I was envious,” Birtwell said. “One of the hardest moments of my life was the last game I played for Harvard. It was tough [coming back] because I knew I didn’t belong and that it was time to pass the torch. It would be nice to go back and do it again.”

Instead, Birtwell has his sights set on the grandest stage of all. Major League Baseball is an exclusive fraternity with a long waiting list, but Birtwell says his time in the minors has shown him that while he has a lot to learn, the supposed pipe dream of playing major league baseball is actually a realistic possibility.

“One of the oddest things for me was when I came to the conclusion that I could actually do it,” Birtwell said. “I got into Harvard and I never thought that would happen. Playing baseball was the same thing. I never expected to be drafted, but somehow it happened, so you run with it.”