Editor's Note: The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the addition of Michael Felish, Indiana University sports journalist videographer, as a permanent contributor to the show. As the official baseball videographer, Michael has seen firsthand the rise of Indiana University baseball led by Chicago Cubs first round pick Kyle Schwarber. Here is his take on Schwarber and what the Cubs will get from the catcher/outfielder. Be sure to check Michael out on Twitter (@BallparkFelish).
CHICAGO, Illinois—Former Middletown baseball coach and
current IU assistant coach Fred Nori saw something special in a young Kyle Schwarber.
The pop off of his bat during batting practice even during high school had
opposing teams standing up in their dugouts, leaning over the railing in awe of
the raw power Schwarber possessed from the left side of the batter’s box.
Nori believed so strongly in the power hitter that he gave a
call to Indiana head coach and long-time family friend Tracy Smith to make the
trip to Middletown to see Schwarber in person. A three-hour ride, a quick stop
at Skyline Chili’s and three home runs off the bat of the promising catcher during
the game, and Smith was sold.
Schwarber came into Indiana with the selling point that he could
be an instant contributor on a team that was looking to make a name for themselves on the national scene. For
so many years Indiana and the Big Ten were looked upon as the doormat of
college baseball once postseason play rolled around. Never could Schwarber and
Smith have imagined that the Hoosiers would be the team to change the
notion of northern baseball.
Schwarber was not drafted coming out of high school.
Professional teams did not want to allot their money to a promising athlete who
seemed to have strong potential of playing college football. Yet his decision
to come to Bloomington to play for the Hoosiers ultimately turned him into a
complete tool player.
Schwarber hit for average and power- that was a given. He
quietly had above average speed on the basepaths after focusing on speed
training during his time training as a linebacker. What he had to work on was
his defense. That was the only question mark scouts had on the Middletown
native after they saw him play.
What do the Chicago Cubs get with their fourth overall pick
in the 2014 MLB Draft? The team from the North Side gets a five-tool player
that started 178 of 180 career games at Indiana University. His defense has
improved each year behind the plate. Schwarber’s freshman year fielding
percentage was .973. committing 11 errors in 331 opportunities. His senior year
saw a 19-point improvement finishing with a .992 fielding percentage with just
three errors 325 opportunities.
Schwarber did not finish a season with a sub .300 batting average, his career average after three years was .341 complemented with 182 runs, 41 doubles, 12 triples, 40 home runs, and 149 runs batted in. Another astonishing feat is he finished his career offensively with a .607 slugging percentage.
Schwarber did not finish a season with a sub .300 batting average, his career average after three years was .341 complemented with 182 runs, 41 doubles, 12 triples, 40 home runs, and 149 runs batted in. Another astonishing feat is he finished his career offensively with a .607 slugging percentage.
What makes the left-handed power hitter a good fit for the
Cubs? Schwarber spent time at both catching and left field during his time in
Bloomington. If Chicago believes he does not have the ability to catch behind
the plate, he can easily fit into a corner outfield position or possibly even
first base if anything were to happen to Anthony Rizzo who is currently under a
seven-year contract with the team through 2021. Schwarber can be seen as a viable pinch-hitter if he was to be brought up in the next two-three years
possessing power off the bench to go along with his underrated speed.
He simply is just an all-around athlete and a pleasure to
have in the clubhouse. He knew he had a special talent but also had a certain
humility to him that made him a pleasure to work with as a coach and play with
as a player. He was a big reason behind the rise Indiana baseball has had
during his time in Bloomington the past three years which saw the Hoosiers win
back-to-back Big Ten championships, IU’s first-ever appearance in the College
World Series, and the team’s first ever national ranking in the postseason
earlier in the month.
Kyle Schwarber is one lucky guy. He brought prominence to
Indiana and has become a true ambassador to the team. He went from enjoying
Skyline Chili in Ohio to getting to enjoy Portillo’s in the windy city. If the
Cubs play their cards right and work him properly through their farm system, it
will not be long until Schwarber will be amazing fans on the north side with
his unprecedented work ethic, incredible power from the plate and no-doubter
home runs that will fly past the bleachers onto Sheffield Avenue.
Agree of disagree with Michael's take on Schwarber? Leave a comment below the link.
The Sports ReKap, hosted by Nick Kapetan and DJ Vogt, will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.
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The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Matt Barbato, Kevin Clancy, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.
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