Kansas State University Athletics
SE: K-State BSB Alum Levi MaVorhis Wins Perseverance Award with State College Spikes
Sep 26, 2017 | Baseball, Sports Extra
Levi MaVorhis got called down to the field before the State College Spikes' September 4 home game, but the former K-State baseball standout had no idea why.
MaVorhis obliged and unknowingly walked out to receive an award from an inspirational person within the Spikes' organization: Josiah Viera. When presented the 2017 Josiah Viera Perseverance Award by Viera himself, MaVorhis was honored.
"To be recognized for that by him, it was pretty special," said MaVorhis, the third recipient of the award that is selected annually by Viera, who defines the word "perseverance" every day.
The 13-year-old suffers from Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, a rare and fatal genetic disorder that causes accelerated aging in children. The condition has no cure, affects roughly one in four million newborns and ages the body about 10 years for every one actual year of life. Those born with it are expected to live between eight to 13 years.
Viera has been part of the Spikes' program since 2013, bringing a positive presence to the dugout and impacting many players along the way. This season, MaVorhis was one of them.
"Being around him every day gives you a lot of perspective," MaVorhis said. "With what he deals with on a daily basis and he still comes to the field with such a positive attitude. He's a light for all the guys in the clubhouse and it really inspires you."
MaVorhis needed a little inspiration early in his season with the St. Louis Cardinals' short-season Class A club in State College, Pennsylvania.
The 2015 K-State graduate's first two starts for the Spikes turned out to be his only two starts for them. Both starts ended in the fourth inning and with obvious frustration. But Viera's presence always brought MaVorhis back to a positive mental balance.
"I didn't get off to the best start this season and he kind of keeps you even-keel," MaVorhis said, "because any time you want to get down on yourself, you realize it's still just a game and I'm so lucky to be out here and living my dreams, so he keeps you positive."
Along with Viera's impact, MaVorhis also leaned on some lessons on dealing with adversity from his time at K-State. An arm injury ended his junior season early, prompting off-season surgery and a comeback he said was "probably the hardest thing I've ever to do, baseball-wise."
"But it makes it that much more sweet when you come back and you have success," he added. "I think it gave me a lot of perspective and I think it helped me grow a lot as a pitcher.
"I think it just allowed me to just worry less and appreciate the game more."
In his first start this season, MaVorhis allowed three earned runs on four hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings. His next time out, he surrendered five hits and two runs in three innings, prompting his move to the bullpen.
By season's end, the former Wildcat was a shutdown asset out of the bullpen. MaVorhis lowered his ERA from 8.10 to 2.06 in 43 2/3 innings, helping garner him an award he never expected.
"It makes it that much more special," he said. "It was pretty awesome to be presented that award."
Out of the bullpen this season, MaVorhis was dominant. In 37 1/3 innings of relief, he compiled a 1.21 ERA with 33 strikeouts, along with a pair of saves in as many opportunities.
The turnaround, he said, hinged on trusting an adjustment in his pitch repertoire this season. MaVorhis replaced his sinker with a four-seam fastball, which affected what parts of the strike zone he would attack.
"I was getting hit a little bit and so when that happens you start to question, 'Am I doing the right thing? Do I need to go back to what I was doing before?'" he said. "But I think just trusting the process helped, sticking with it and thinking less, going out there and saying, 'The only pitch that matters is the next one. Just get up there and throw it, don't worry about what's going to happen. All you can control is up until to the point when you release the ball.'"
With the Spikes' season over after missing the league's Wild Card bid by 3.5 games, MaVorhis is in control of how he handles the offseason. To start, he said he would spend a few months in North Carolina with his girlfriend. He also plans to come back to K-State in November to train and start his offseason-throwing program, returning to a place and to people he's stayed connected with since he left.
"Work ethic is a big thing that they'll teach you at K-State," said MaVorhis, who went undrafted out of K-State after collecting the fourth-most career victories (19) in school history. "I still talk to both Josh Reynolds and Tyler Kincaid, my pitching coaches, and they'll give me advice. TK will text me after outings and we'll kind of joke around about different things and he'll give me some words of encouragement. You never really stop using the stuff you learn at K-State. You keep using those connections once you leave, you don't just cut the cord."
MaVorhis obliged and unknowingly walked out to receive an award from an inspirational person within the Spikes' organization: Josiah Viera. When presented the 2017 Josiah Viera Perseverance Award by Viera himself, MaVorhis was honored.
"To be recognized for that by him, it was pretty special," said MaVorhis, the third recipient of the award that is selected annually by Viera, who defines the word "perseverance" every day.
The 13-year-old suffers from Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, a rare and fatal genetic disorder that causes accelerated aging in children. The condition has no cure, affects roughly one in four million newborns and ages the body about 10 years for every one actual year of life. Those born with it are expected to live between eight to 13 years.
Viera has been part of the Spikes' program since 2013, bringing a positive presence to the dugout and impacting many players along the way. This season, MaVorhis was one of them.
"Being around him every day gives you a lot of perspective," MaVorhis said. "With what he deals with on a daily basis and he still comes to the field with such a positive attitude. He's a light for all the guys in the clubhouse and it really inspires you."
MaVorhis needed a little inspiration early in his season with the St. Louis Cardinals' short-season Class A club in State College, Pennsylvania.
The 2015 K-State graduate's first two starts for the Spikes turned out to be his only two starts for them. Both starts ended in the fourth inning and with obvious frustration. But Viera's presence always brought MaVorhis back to a positive mental balance.
"I didn't get off to the best start this season and he kind of keeps you even-keel," MaVorhis said, "because any time you want to get down on yourself, you realize it's still just a game and I'm so lucky to be out here and living my dreams, so he keeps you positive."
Along with Viera's impact, MaVorhis also leaned on some lessons on dealing with adversity from his time at K-State. An arm injury ended his junior season early, prompting off-season surgery and a comeback he said was "probably the hardest thing I've ever to do, baseball-wise."
"But it makes it that much more sweet when you come back and you have success," he added. "I think it gave me a lot of perspective and I think it helped me grow a lot as a pitcher.
"I think it just allowed me to just worry less and appreciate the game more."
In his first start this season, MaVorhis allowed three earned runs on four hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings. His next time out, he surrendered five hits and two runs in three innings, prompting his move to the bullpen.
By season's end, the former Wildcat was a shutdown asset out of the bullpen. MaVorhis lowered his ERA from 8.10 to 2.06 in 43 2/3 innings, helping garner him an award he never expected.
"It makes it that much more special," he said. "It was pretty awesome to be presented that award."
Out of the bullpen this season, MaVorhis was dominant. In 37 1/3 innings of relief, he compiled a 1.21 ERA with 33 strikeouts, along with a pair of saves in as many opportunities.
The turnaround, he said, hinged on trusting an adjustment in his pitch repertoire this season. MaVorhis replaced his sinker with a four-seam fastball, which affected what parts of the strike zone he would attack.
"I was getting hit a little bit and so when that happens you start to question, 'Am I doing the right thing? Do I need to go back to what I was doing before?'" he said. "But I think just trusting the process helped, sticking with it and thinking less, going out there and saying, 'The only pitch that matters is the next one. Just get up there and throw it, don't worry about what's going to happen. All you can control is up until to the point when you release the ball.'"
With the Spikes' season over after missing the league's Wild Card bid by 3.5 games, MaVorhis is in control of how he handles the offseason. To start, he said he would spend a few months in North Carolina with his girlfriend. He also plans to come back to K-State in November to train and start his offseason-throwing program, returning to a place and to people he's stayed connected with since he left.
"Work ethic is a big thing that they'll teach you at K-State," said MaVorhis, who went undrafted out of K-State after collecting the fourth-most career victories (19) in school history. "I still talk to both Josh Reynolds and Tyler Kincaid, my pitching coaches, and they'll give me advice. TK will text me after outings and we'll kind of joke around about different things and he'll give me some words of encouragement. You never really stop using the stuff you learn at K-State. You keep using those connections once you leave, you don't just cut the cord."
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballK-State Baseball | Fall Ball Recap 2025
Tuesday, November 11
K-State BSB | Postgame Press Conference vs Texas
Sunday, June 01
K-State Baseball | Game Highlights vs Houston Christian (Austin Regional)
Sunday, June 01
K-State BSB | Game Highlights vs Houston Christian (Austin Regional)
Saturday, May 31