Meet Andrew Ureña: The Men and Women Building North America

Andrew Ureña, Kloeckner’s Vice President of Financial Reporting and Tax, spent the first part of his life doing something that, statistically, almost never works out.

He grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico, playing baseball constantly. Like a lot of kids, he dreamed about playing professionally, but for a long time, that’s all it was. His focus was getting to the next level, one step at a time, starting with the goal of playing college baseball in the United States. That opportunity came when he went to Mercer University.

During his time there, things started to change. As a right-handed pitcher, his velocity began to climb, and he started gaining real attention from scouts. One by one, letters began arriving in his mailbox, followed by tryouts, and what had always felt like a long shot started to feel possible.

By his senior year, he realized he actually had a chance of making it beyond college-level baseball. “You always dream about it,” he says. “But you don’t think it’s actually going to happen.”

Before he knew it, it did, when Andrew was drafted by the Chicago White Sox organization, moving into their minor league system and into a completely different version of the game.

What Playing Professionally Actually Looks Like

Getting drafted is one moment; what comes after is something else entirely. For viewers, professional baseball is games, statistics, and highlights, but for the players, it’s repetition, travel, pressure, and constant evaluations. You’re competing against players who were all the best wherever they came from, and the margin between staying and getting cut is thin.

As a right-handed pitcher, Andrew was part of that environment for several years. His routine didn’t leave much room for anything else. You’re preparing, recovering, adjusting, and trying to stay one step ahead, knowing that performance is always being watched.

It’s a grind in a way people don’t always see from the outside. “It taught me a lot,” he says. “I learned about the value of working hard, competing, being the best you could be, and facing adversity.”

Even for players who make it to that level, most don’t stay there forever. At some point, the career ends, and you have to figure out what comes next.

Still in the Game, Just in a Different Way

When Andrew stepped away from playing, baseball didn’t really leave his life, but it did change roles. Today, most of his time outside of work is spent coaching his daughter’s softball team. She plays catcher and has her own goals of playing at the next level, and Andrew is right there with her through practices, games, and everything in between.

That’s where a lot of his time goes now. “I’m not playing anymore,” he says. “Now it’s about passing that down.”

Although it’s a different kind of commitment, in some ways, it’s just as demanding. Between coaching, family, and work, his schedule still remains full. He and his wife have been married nearly 20 years, and their son is currently in college studying finance. When he does find some extra time, he’ll get out to play golf, but most of it is spent around the field.

Building North America Looks Different for Everyone

Andrew’s path led him through baseball fields in Puerto Rico to the minor leagues and now into his role at Kloeckner. The people building North America don’t all come from the same place, and they don’t all follow the same path. Some grew up in the industry, while others didn’t. Some took a direct route. Others didn’t.

The unique stories and experiences they bring with them, whether it’s years in professional sports or something completely different, are clearly seen as a differentiator in the way they work, lead, and contribute to the team.

Andrew’s story just happens to start on a baseball field.