Sweeney, Schebler have come long way since T-ball
LANSING, Mich. -- Kellen Sweeney has a drawing of a lugnut on his baseball cap these days, symbolic of playing in a town where the automobile industry has a proud history.
His lifelong buddy, Scott Schebler, has a caricature of a loon on his cap, symbolic of a state known for its waterfowl.
Sweeney and Schebler wear their caps proudly. And yes, the former Metro stars have come a long way since their T-ball days in the Cedar Hills Booster Club program in Cedar Rapids.
Sweeney, 20, is a third baseman for the Lansing Lugnuts, a Class A farm team for the Toronto Blue Jays. Schebler, 21, plays right field for the Great Lakes Loons, a Class A affiliate for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Both clubs are located in Michigan (the Loons are based in Midland) and both teams play in the Midwest League. And defying the odds, Sweeney and Schebler made their Midwest League debuts against each other Friday night at Cooley Law School Stadium in downtown Lansing.
"One in a million," Schebler said before the game. "It's crazy."
Sweeney starred at Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School, where he concentrated solely on baseball and knew from an early age he wanted to play pro ball, just like his older brother Ryan, an outfielder with the Boston Red Sox.
Schebler was a five-sport star at Cedar Rapids Prairie, just as happy on a football or soccer field as he was on a baseball diamond. Unlike Sweeney, he did not grow up dreaming about playing pro baseball, even though he excelled at the sport.
"It never crossed my mind at all," he said. "I felt football might be where I was heading, and then I had a stellar senior season (in baseball) and it went from there."
Schebler spent one year at Des Moines Area Community College, was drafted by the Dodgers in 2010 and signed a pro contract rather than going to Wichita State. Sweeney was drafted out of high school in 2010, also signed and headed straight to the minors.
Schebler spent the 2011 campaign in Ogden, Utah, where he hit a solid .285 with 13 homers and 58 RBIs in a rookie league. Sweeney spent part of the 2011 season in Bluefield, W.Va., but missed most of the year with a wrist injury and appeared in only nine games, hitting just .114 in the rookie Appalachian League.
They took different paths to the Midwest League, but here they are now, hoping to have productive years so they can continue their climb in pro ball. Both of them are excited to be in the Midwest League, which represents a step in the right direction.
"Yes, very happy," said Sweeney. "Being in the midwest, coming back close to where I'm from and being able to have my family come see me and everything, it's great."
Sweeney's parents, Gary and Lori, made the trip to Friday night's game to watch Kellen and Schebbie, as he's called, open the season. Sweeney and Schebler were teammates on the Cedar Rapids Indians and Cedar Rapids Cobras, two premier youth teams that had great success through the years. Gary Sweeney and Jeff Schebler, Scott's father, helped coach those teams and helped their sons get where they are today.
Their long journey began in T-ball, although it doesn't do any good to press them for details.
"It sounds right," said Schebler, whose family lives in Solon. "It was a long, long time ago. I honestly don't remember that, but that's what my parents tell me. I have pictures from it, so I have to believe those, right?"
Sweeney was hoping he'd be assigned to Lansing, but he didn't know the Dodgers also had a farm team in the league and didn't make the connection of facing Schebler until his father told him last weekend. "Once I found out I was going to be playing against Schebbie, I was excited," he said.
Jeff Schebler made a similar phone call to his son.
"It was probably two days before spring training let out," said Schebbie. "He said, 'You're never going to believe this.' I said, 'OK, hit me with it.'
"He said, 'You're going to play against Kellen in the first game of the season and Gary is going to be there.' And I was like, 'Wow.' That makes it a little more special. I grew up with him, I grew up around him and Gary. It's a cool thing."
Schebler likes being in the Midwest League, but he's also a little cautious.
"I love it. There's no doubt about it, but the pressure is on a little more," he said. "You see people that you know, and when you see people that you know you try to do a little extra. I just have to calm myself a little bit and remind myself what got me here."
The Lugnuts and Loons don't play in Cedar Rapids this year, so there won't be any true homecomings for Sweeney or Schebler this season.
Schebler hit fourth in the lineup for Great Lakes Friday night, but Sweeney drew the No. 9 spot in the Lansing lineup after getting only a handful of at-bats last season.
"I don't really care, as long as I'm in the lineup and get to play," said Sweeney. "I was in the 9-hole last night (for an exhibition game against Michigan State) and did pretty well. Wherever you are, you have to perform. It doesn't really matter where you are."
Sweeney just wants to stay healthy and have a productive year. He said his wrist feels great and he's happy to be playing on a regular basis again.
Schebler played a full season last year in rookie ball and is looking to build on what he accomplished, especially in the batter's box. "Be patient," he's telling himself. "I want my two-strike approach to be better. I struck out quite a bit last year. I need to draw more walks. My on-base percentage needs to go up."
Sweeney and Schebler got to visit in the outfield before batting practice Friday, giving them a chance to catch up on the news and wish each other good luck. There's been some family kidding about Schebler possibly bunting down the third-base line to test Sweeney's defense, but Schebler is batting fourth to drive the ball, not bunt for base hits.
"If he does," said Sweeney, smiling, "bring it on."
Lansing defeated Great Lakes, 3-2.
Schebler went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Sweeney was 0-for-1 with a hit-by-pitch and walk. He was picked off base after being plunked with a pitch in the fifth inning and fell to the ground in pain after hurting his right knee, but he walked it off and stayed in the game.
