Samuel Schneider '20 Recruiting Profile

Growing up in a home with an older brother and a father who worship the game of baseball has given me the opportunity to watch alongside them, get to know the statistics for each team and its players, and become dedicated to playing baseball ever since I can remember.  In addition, every year our household calendar gets marked for the “Catchers and Pitchers Report” as a family holiday.  Furthermore, one claim to fame that I am proud of is the fact that my grandfather’s cousin is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. This has inspired me further and has heightened my dedication as a player and a teammate. 

However, my challenges began when I was in the third grade. I was diagnosed with dyslexia.  Even though other people may use this as an excuse to “sit back and give up” due to the difficulties of going to school and learning to read, I persevered and was determined to do my best in school. As I got older, I even succeeded with setting goals for myself to be on the honor roll.  I knew that if I worked as hard as I could in school, I would have more time after school to shoot hoops or have a catch with my brother or father which allowed my mind to unwind and focus on what I enjoyed most. 

Just when I was at the age to truly understand my reading difficulties and learning how to manage them, I was side swiped when I was in sixth grade.   I’ll never forget the day my mother was diagnosed with cancer.  It gave my family and I the biggest obstacle ever!  Suddenly the weight of the world was on my shoulders as an eleven-year-old boy. However, due to that horrible news I understood that I had to devote more time to my studies but most of all to my family.  Since I have twin sisters who are five years younger than me, it became my responsibility to help take care of them and my mother (who was going through chemo treatments) when I got home from school.

Moreover, the passion that I have for baseball continued to grow. The game taught me and allowed me to block out distractions surrounding me. The skills I acquired trained me to stay calm in the classroom and on the field. Due to the challenges that I have faced at a young age, I am able to keep my “head in the game” while achieving what needs to get executed on the mound.  My physical ability as a player and my mental ability to block out negativity (due to my consistent positive attitude) makes me an asset to your team.