Craig Breslow can trace the genesis of it all, of who he is and what he does and where he will be years and
decades from now, to a single, searing moment. He was a typical American 12-year-old, a Little Leaguer being picked up by his dad at a friend’s house, when his future changed course. “I could tell my dad was upset,” the Twins reliever said of that ride home in 1991. “He said, ‘Craig, Lesley has cancer.’ And the first thing I asked was, ‘Is she going to die’ ” His status as a big leaguer, as a successful member of Minnesota’s bullpen, helped attract celebrities such as ESPN baseball analyst Peter Gammons and UConn women’s coach Gino Auriemma, a five-time national champion. “I couldn’t be more But first, he plans to get hitters out for the Twins, who open spring training camp Sunday, when pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers, Fla. His baseball breakthrough came last season, when he pitched more consistently and effectively than at any time in his career. He established himself as a left-handed specialist in the Twins’ bullpen, with a 1.63 earned-run average in 42 appearances, and his role figures to expand in 2009. That only delays the day he hopes to be part of a different sort of breakthrough. “I’m completely committed to baseball now,” Breslow said. “At the same time, I’ve thought about attending medical school for a long time.”
Since shortly after that moment in the car, in fact, when he didn’t know whether his sister would be OK.