Jesus Cano’s path from Los Medanos College to becoming the Atlanta Braves beat reporter for The Athletic isn’t just impressive, it’s the kind of story that reminds you why people fall in love with journalism in the first place.
Cano didn’t stumble into journalism. “I had already been pursuing journalism since I was in high school,” he said. At the time, he planned on becoming an English teacher, but once he discovered sports journalism, everything clicked. “My true passion is storytelling, and the fact that I can do that with sports, another passion of mine, made it so appealing.”
Even early on, Cano had a feeling this was what he was meant to do. “Not to sound cocky, but I always felt like since the first day I wrote my story I knew this was for me.” That confidence wasn’t unwarranted, it was backed by relentless and hard work. While at LMC, Cano balanced a full-time course load, a 40-hour-a-week job at a beer distribution warehouse, his role as sports editor, and coverage of local high school sports. “The chase was such a fun time because I knew all of it would pay off,” he said.
At LMC, Cano created and sharpened the skills that would carry him in the future. Serving as an editor helped develop his news judgment, while the collaborative environment pushed him to grow. He also credits Los Medanos College journalism professor Cindy McGrath with making a lasting impact. “Seeing those marks on my copy always motivated me to make sure I had as little edits as possible,” he said.
Cano’s journey, however, wasn’t built on comfort or privilege. It was built on persistence and resilience. “My parents were immigrants. They didn’t know a lick of English when they got here. I was the middle man for that barrier they had,” he said. “I really had to make it out of the mud. I’m talking about four people, one mattress type of struggle. Not knowing when my next meal was going to be.” Despite that, Cano pushed through the struggles and now works for The Athletic, owned by The New York Times. His message to current students is simple: “It doesn’t matter where you start, it’s about where you finish, and if you put in the work, they’ll find you.”
Along the way, Cano leaned on mentors and friendships that shaped both his career and his life. He credits McGrath’s “motherly instincts and deep passion for journalism,” along with mentors like Marc Anthony Lopez and Luke Johnson, who “took me under his wing early in my career when he didn’t need to.”
Now, Cano is stepping into one of the most coveted roles in baseball media, covering the Atlanta Braves full time. For him, it’s about more than just the job title. “More than anything, it’s reflecting on the journey. That’s what makes it so special,” he said. From writing $15 high school stories to grinding through multiple jobs just to stay afloat, every step led to this moment.
“There were times I really wanted to give up. Trust me,” Cano admitted. “But I knew opportunities like this only come once-in-a-lifetime.” Now, he’s living out his dream, proving all the hard work was worth it, while carrying the lessons he learned with him.
