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Daniel Schneemann's MLB debut completes a long journey from minor leagues with Guardians
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- Daniel Schneemann's MLB debut completes a long journey from minor leagues with Guardians
CLEVELAND — More than 1,000 players were drafted before Daniel Schneemann's name was finally taken off the board roughly six years ago. He's never been considered a top prospect in the Guardians organization. He had to patiently wait his turn and grind through the minor leagues.
But Sunday afternoon at Progressive Field , Schneemann had his moment in the major leagues. He lived out the dream scenario that so many visualized their whole baseball lives only to fall short on the doorstep of the game's highest level. And, in doing so, a lengthy, twisting, difficult path to the majors was completed.
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Schneemann's story is a baseball classic.
He was a 33rd-round draft pick in the 2016 draft . It means he was the No. 1,003 overall draft selection that year. It means he was taken in a round that no longer exists, as MLB recently shortened the MLB amateur draft. It means he was effectively a shot in the dark as a draft pick, one who would have to outwork and outplay the many prospects in the organization in whom the team had more draft stock.
Schneemann went on to methodically progress through the Guardians minor league system for six years, passing his 27th birthday without a major league at-bat to his name .
Guardians promote Daniel Schneemann to majors, option Johnathan Rodriguez to Triple-A
Guardians second baseman Daniel Schneemann hits a second-inning RBI double against the Nationals on June 2.
Finally, he got the call that he was on his way to the majors. The Guardians were about to face a series of right-handed starting pitchers, so they opted to promote Schneemann, a left-handed hitter, in favor of fellow rookie Johnathan Rodriguez before Sunday's game.
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A few hours layer, Schneemann stepped to the plate in the second inning with two runners on base and the Guardians needing a big hit, down 4-0 to the Washington Nationals .
So did he watch his first pitch in the majors go by, to allow his nerves to settle? Absolutely not.
For his first pitch as a major league hitter, he got a fastball from Jake Irvin and turned on it, driving it down the right-field line for a two-run double. The Guardians dugout went nuts.
By the time Schneemann reached second base and had a chance to turn around, just about every player and coach in the Guardians dugout had both arms raised in the air, celebrating. Steven Kwan , especially, appeared to be more excited than Schneemann himself and spent the entire play jumping up and down.
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"You're always excited for somebody when they get their first hit and you pile on the top, late-round pick, 27 years old, had to really work and earn every single bit of it," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. "And then to see him get his first hit on the first pitch, we were all jumping around like kids because we care for each other, and the best teammates in the world are more genuinely excited for someone else's success than their own.
"And to see Kwanie jumping around like that, it just tells you everything you need to know about our group."
Daniel Schneemann doubles in first major league at-bat with Cleveland Guardians
That type of dugout support was something that kept Schneemann going as he continued his attempt to knock down the door to the majors and join the Guardians in Cleveland.
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"Yeah, I mean, just watching all the highlights and the past couple months and just seeing how everyone in this clubhouse pulls for each other, I mean, just being a part of that now is something that I was looking forward to," Schneemann said. "And, I mean, it was really cool. It was really special."
Schneemann walked to the plate. He heard his name announced in a major league stadium. And only a few moments later, he was standing on second base as the Progressive Field crowd and the home dugout were sent into a celebratory frenzy.
Later, he lined a ball to deep center field. It was caught and went as an out, but Schneemann received a louder-than-usual ovation in recognition of his day. That moment, too, hit home.
"Yeah, that was cool. I wasn't really expecting that so, I mean, running in, got the chills a little bit after that hit as well," Schneemann said. "[It was] a good moment."
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Before the game, as Vogt walked away from his pregame news conference with reporters, he quickly remarked that a debut day is always a fun day. He was right.
Because, although the Guardians lost 5-2, that moment will always belong to Schneemann.
"Just keep working if you're not there," Schneemann said when asked what his message to be to anyone, especially any kids, who are working toward their goals. "I feel like I was able to develop, being in this system, this organization has given me a lot of opportunities, failure and success. So, I mean, I'm super blessed to be in this org ... I think if you just work hard enough, you can achieve it."
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Threads at @ByRyanLewis .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians' Daniel Schneemann debut includes first-pitch hit
