[SPOKANE, Wash.] --From t-ball and little leagues in North Idaho to Spokane Falls Community College and now onto the big leagues, Liam Paddack’s story as a student athlete wasn’t traditional, but it is one with results that most kids dream of.
The left-handed pitcher first enrolled at SFCC in 2022 with plans to transfer to a university where he could continue his career in athletics.
“When I was looking at the history of Spokane Falls baseball and how successful they were and how many prospects went on to bigger schools in the past, it was easy for me to make my decision, especially with my parents pushing me,” Paddack said.
Being a student athlete at SFCC allowed him to create a solid routine and figure out what he really wanted out of his future.
With his associate degree, Paddack transferred to Gonzaga University in 2024 where he continued his education and decided to pursue a bachelor's degree in Sport Management.
“Spokane Falls prepares you to attend university by giving you a taste of what college is like," Paddack said. “I wasn't very far from home, but I still lived away from home, so it was that first little taste of living on my own and preparing for Gonzaga because it was the same up there.”
Shortly into his career at Gonzaga where he led the team in stats like strikeouts, innings pitched, and starts during his first season, Paddack was drafted into the MLB as the Chicago White Sox’s 18th round draft pick in July 2024.
As Paddack leans into life as a professional athlete, he is quick to remember the steps he took to reach the goals he’d set years ago.
“Spokane Colleges has definitely prepared me,” Paddack said. “It's such a family over here. Spokane Falls was a huge stepping stone for me because I grew so much here with everyone that was involved. It's so much more to me than just the community. It's a part of me that will never go away.”