Catawba Ridge High School senior baseball catcher Sam Schwamb is making a once in a lifetime trip this weekend.
Schwamb, 18, is headed to Tempe, Ariz. Jan. 16-20 to participate in the Major League Baseball (MLB) Dream Series. He is one of only 55 minority high school players invited in the country to try and participate in the event.
The Dream series is a development event focused on the dynamics of pitching and catching for a diverse group of high school athletes, predominately African-American players, from across the country during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.
Schwamb said he is looking forward to the trip to Arizona to pick the brains of the people there and “get more savvy with the game of baseball.”
Being a catcher, Schwamb said he likes being able to touch the ball every time it is pitched and always being in the middle of the action.
“I like commanding the field, making sure everyone is where they need to be,” he said. “I make it my goal that everybody moves in unison and to make it to look flawless. I like to be able to help my pitcher and being a coach on the field.”
The event is coordinated by MLB and USA Baseball and will allow players to get instruction at the highest level along with things like scout evaluations, video coverage, and seminars.
“I am there to get instruction by former major league players,” he said. “We are there catching bullpens and going through hitting instruction. We are just trying to get good work in.”
Schwamb said he is looking forward to the opportunity. He was selected to go there through the MLB Develops organization, which is part of Major League Baseball’s Youth Development program.
Schwamb is hoping this will get him ready to eventually be drafted by a team later this year. But he also has a backup plan and will be going to North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C.
Being a senior and part of the Copperheads 2023 state championship team, Schwamb is hoping to lead Catawba Ridge back to the playoffs and potentially to another run at a title as part of his final campaign.
“I am looking to be able to lead my team as far as I can in the playoffs and hopefully to another state championship win,” he said.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
