CHICAGO -- When Kansas State University holds its graduation ceremonies this weekend at the Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kan., Evan Marshall will be working out of the White Sox bullpen against the Royals at Guaranteed Rate Field.
But the 31-year-old will be with those graduates in spirit of accomplishment after finishing his degree in business management with a minor in marketing. Marshall was 50 credits/three semesters shy when he was selected by the D-backs in the fourth round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of Kansas State and returned to KSU following the 2017 season.
Marshall’s final final exam, covering corporate citizenship and business ethics, took place on Tuesday.
“First off I’m extremely proud. It’s been hard, first one in my family so I owed it to them to follow through with this,” Marshall said. “I didn’t do anything for five or six years, so it made going back even harder, one or two, three classes at a time, first semester quietly getting them done.
“When you finish and are drafted, they put the remaining amount of school money aside for you and Kansas State has a special fund where they want their athletes to graduate. So, whatever Major League Baseball didn’t cover, they were eager to pick up for me just to help me get along.”
This degree, coupled with Marshall’s keen baseball acumen, could lend himself to becoming a general manager someday. Marshall also wouldn’t rule out coaching.
For now, Marshall is worried about retiring Twins hitters. He also joked about looking for an offseason White Sox internship in marketing or brand management after working through spring, winter and summer semesters during the last four years.
“So, it’s been quietly happening in the background during all of baseball which has been difficult sometimes,” Marshall said. “I will say with COVID it actually got a little bit easier because they relaxed the proctoring protocols from my classes, so I got to schedule it a little better around my times instead of me having to schedule around their times, plus baseball.”
“He sets an example, and I definitely applaud him,” said manager Tony La Russa, who is one of the five lawyer/managers in baseball history. All five are in the Hall of Fame.
“I congratulated him. That's an accomplishment, deciding you want to do it and taking the time to do it. And it's a very important credential to have.”
Marshall gave major credit to Jamie Hamor, his KSU athletic counselor. He also praised his wife, Allison, who was his motivator through this process. They can celebrate together this weekend while his fellow graduates go through the pomp and circumstance live.
“I just want the piece of paper in the mail,” said a smiling Marshall. “I’m glad it’s over, but very proud.
“My wife graduated in four years and she has been rubbing that in my face for a long time, and now I get to put my diploma next to hers and proudly tell my son. And we just found out we’re having another boy, so I can tell my sons that their dad accomplished something.”