Accepted into a post-secondary graduate program at the University of Southern California, Flores sought to advance his education, even if admittedly unsure to where that might lead. For the former World Series champion who played eight seasons in the Majors, the task was as much about the journey as it was the destination.
"If nothing else, it was to show someone that I was willing to put in the time and energy and work and have the aptitude to be challenged in new and uncomfortable settings," Flores explained in recent a sit-down interview with MLB.com. "It's uncomfortable having grey hair and going to graduate school when you have two kids and you came out of a uniform while working during the day.