Surprised. That's the only word that Sam Bachman used to describe his feelings when he received the news. On Thursday, March 12, 2020, all MAC athletes were alerted that the conference would bring spring play to a halt due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Before the cancellation of his sophomore season, Bachman had built quite the resume on the mound. The young ace raked in three major awards by the end of his first season with the RedHawks. These awards included All-MAC First Team, Freshman All-American and MAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year. By the time the season was canceled, Bachman had come too far to stop pushing forward.
Immediately after the news broke, Bachman said that he reached for his phone to text hometown friend Luke Albright, a pitcher for MAC rival Kent State University. While some viewed the cancellation as a time for rest, the two young pitchers took advantage of all the free time they had in the months to come.
"We didn't see it as a time to relax, but rather a chance to reevaluate where we were in relation to our peers. So we came up with a plan and attacked it," says Bachman.
And attack it they did. Bachman said that throughout the time he was home during the pandemic, he strongly focused on putting himself in the best position possible for the future. Lifting, on-field training, and diet were aspects that the Major League Baseball prospect chose to improve while back in Fishers, Indiana.
Bachman even had a chance to participate in the Grand Park Summer League in Westfield, Indiana. Being able to play against premier talent while at the same time regrouping with old friends and teammates helped consistently motivate and prepare Bachman for the next step in his baseball career.
Now, after a solid junior season where he made 12 starts and was named to the All-MAC First Team again, Bachman has his eyes set on the next level.
Being slated as a top prospect in this year's MLB Draft, there is serious potential for Bachman's name to be called in the first round, a feat never before accomplished by any Miami baseball player.
When asked what it would mean to him to be the first player to accomplish this, Bachman paused.
"(Being selected in the first round) would mean a lot just because I would be able to represent Miami," Bachman said. "They have sacrificed so much for me to become the player I am, so I'm proud to wear Miami across my chest."
As July 11 draws closer, Bachman is anxiously biding his time with friends and family. Thinking back on his development thus far, Bachman understands the value of work on and off the field, what it means to be a good teammate, and how to truly make the most of any situation. With this type of attitude and focus, Bachman is more than prepared to confidently make the jump to the next level of his baseball career.
