​Every day is a gift, and Riley Laumer embodies that mindset. At 18, Laumer has shown extraordinary perseverance from the very start, though most fans who see him around the ballpark have little idea of the challenges he has faced. His uniform hides a remarkable journey.
Laumer was born with a rare congenital heart defect called double inlet left ventricle with transposition of the great arteries. In his condition, his right ventricle never developed, and the heart’s two main arteries—the aorta and the pulmonary artery—were reversed, causing oxygen-poor blood to circulate through his body without ever reaching the lungs. Fortunately, an opening between his two ventricles allowed him to avoid complete reversal of the heart’s circulation. Surgeons rerouted his blood flow to bypass the heart’s right side, sewing his superior vena cava and inferior vena cava directly to the pulmonary artery. As a result, his blood now travels straight to his lungs to pick up oxygen, then returns to the heart’s left side before being pumped out to the rest of his body.
Laumer underwent three open-heart surgeries by the age of two and a half, the first two occurring at six days old and then at six months old. His fourth surgery took place when he was six years old. He had a leaky valve, and the surgeon chose not to close it during the third operation; instead, the valve was sewn shut. A year later, at seven, Laumer and his family embarked on a Make-A-Wish Foundation trip to Key West, Florida. His parents Paul and Krista went, as did his middle brother Brecken and cousin Hayden, while his youngest brother Dylan did not accompany them.
“I love going to new places,” Laumer said, and he recently returned to Willmar after a trip to California. Baseball is another lifelong passion. It has served him well for Willmar in American Legion baseball, where Post 167 has gone 2-1 in games he has pitched. Head coach Jordan Steffer and the rest of the staff have an 8-3 record heading into this weekend’s Gopher Classic tournament, a competition featuring 80 teams across 16 sites. “Pitching is my best spot,” Laumer said. “I’ve always loved it.” Yet, even with a loaded pitching staff this spring, the senior showed his readiness by contributing importantly on the mound. He delivered four innings in a season highlighted by a Cardinals squad that finished 19-7 and advanced to the Section 8AAA championship.
Late in the season, Laumer remained prepared for whatever moment might arise. He started against New London-Spicer on June 15 at Elsie Klemmetson Field, a Veterans Night game that showcased his resilience and talent. “Riley lives for the big moments,” Steffer noted. “I had him on the junior varsity last year for baseball, and also on Legion, and every time he went out there, he would give us five or six solid innings. I chose to give him the start on Veterans Night to show what he can do, and he delivered.” The right-hander pitched a complete game, leading Post 167 to a 5-2 victory. Laumer struck out six, allowing three hits, three walks, and one earned run. “It was a great feeling,” he said. “My teammates were really happy for me.”
Laumer’s journey includes roughly 14 other heart procedures, a testament to his resilience and determination. He continues to face life with the perspective that every day is a gift, both on the baseball field and in his ongoing medical journey.