Tanner Vavra believed his trajectory in the Minnesota Twins farm system had leveled off after three seasons.
He experienced “personal issues” over several months entering this season.
He endured two hamstring pulls in June.
But any obstacles, any setbacks, any bumps would seem to pale in comparison to those he has already overcome.
Vavra, a 2013 Valparaiso University graduate who plays for the St. Paul Saints, continues his career despite being legally blind in his right eye. All he can detect on that side are bright lights.
But his only concession? The former switch-hitter had to stop batting left-handed.
“My parents and my grandparents saved my life,” Vavra said Wednesday at the Steel Yard after the RailCats ended a six-game losing streak with a 5-3 win over the American Association-leading Saints. “Doctors told me I couldn’t do anything — I wouldn’t be able to read, drive a car, this and that can’t happen.
“My parents said, ‘Well, until he tells me he’s struggling and can’t do it, what’s the point?’ They definitely kept a close eye on me. But luckily, they were pretty well off to keep me going. I’ll be thankful forever.”
When Vavra was 3 years old, he injured his eye on a family fishing trip in Washington. What caused it was the hook on the line of his father, Joe, the Twins’ bench coach.
Vavra underwent four surgeries. Combined with a seven-year process of patching his healthy (left) eye to build strength in his right eye, his vision improved to 20/25.
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But shortly after the patch was removed when he was 10, Vavra was poked in his right eye during a touch football game at a birthday party. That accident detached his retina.
He underwent four more surgeries. But after it detached again, doctors decided on no more operations.
Vavra’s eye injury did not prevent him from becoming a two-time All-Horizon League player at Valparaiso, with the Crusaders making the NCAA Tournament in each of his two seasons.
The Twins drafted him in the 30th round in 2013. In three seasons, the 27-year-old reached advanced Class A Fort Meyers and the Twins wanted him to return to the Florida State League this season.
But after two days of discussions with organization officials and his family, Vavra rejected the assignment, and was given his release the last day of spring training.
“Just because of my age, it felt like a dead-end position,” he said.
Vavra contacted St. Paul manager George Tsamis. With his family an hour away in Wisconsin and his father having a condo in the Twin Cities, he was eager to play in that area.
“I said, ‘I have some stuff going on in my life and I want to play at home,’ ” Vavra said. “(Tsamis) said, ‘Here’s what I can offer you, come in and earn a spot.’ And that’s what I did.”
Vavra has flourished as a versatile infielder. He opened as the Saints’ starting second baseman and most recently has been playing third, hitting .296 in 55 games.
The RailCats were the first team to contact Vavra the day after the Twins released him. He was their first choice to play third base, manager Greg Tagert said.
“We would’ve loved to have Tanner Vavra,” Tagert said. “It was between us and the Saints — and I knew where we were on the ladder. We obviously feel good about what we have to offer. But the Minnesota connection was too strong.
“He’s a nice addition to any ballclub, and he would’ve been a good RailCat.”
Vavra is happy with the Saints.
“I feel like it’s a new me, and hopefully a good one,” he said.
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Up next: RailCats (Charle Rosario) at Fargo-Moorhead (TBA), 7:02 p.m. Thursday, WEFM-FM 95.9.