5 SERIES PREVIEW MORE TO LIFE THAN BASEBALL FOR NICK SCHNELL 8
BY THE NUMBER
The RiverDogs are back at home for the rest of May, as they first welcome the Augusta GreenJackets to The Joe for a six-game series. This will be the third series between the two teams this season; the RiverDogs lead the overall season series 8-4.
Augusta is an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The GreenJackets come into this series with a 38-37 record overall (2-7 in the second half). Having just been swept at the hands of the Columbia Fireflies, they are six games back in the South Division of the Carolina League. Augusta is managed by Nestor Perez, who is in his first season with the GreenJackets after spending the previous five seasons with the GCL Braves. Perez spent seven seasons as a shortstop in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization, where he spent the 1998 season here in Charleston with the RiverDogs. He also played with the Colorado Rockies organization and represented Spain in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. The GreenJackets are hitting .236 as a team coming into this series, which is seventh in the Carolina League. Brandol Mezquita leads the team with a .297 batting average and 38 RBI. On the mound this season, they have a team ERA of 4.00. RHP JJ Niekro has been the ace of the staff this year. In 14 game this year (7 GS), he is 7-1 with a 2.11 ERA.
After going 2-4 in their series against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the RiverDogs come into this series with a 49-26 record (3-6 in the second half). The series loss was the first time all season that the RiverDogs finished a series with a losing record. Offensively, the RiverDogs lead the Carolina League in team batting average at .256. They are led by Bobby Seymour in the middle of the order. He is hitting .266 with eight home runs, and his 47 RBI are tied for third in the Carolina League. Carson Williams leads the team with nine home runs as well. Pitching has been strong for the RiverDogs this season, as they are tied for second in the Carolina League with a team ERA of 3.76; led by Austin Vernon, who is tied for first in the league with nine wins as well as strikeouts with 91. Led by manager Blake Butera, the RiverDogs look to get back on track with a series win against the GreenJackets.
Monday, July 4, 6:35 p.m.: Independence Day Mega Fireworks presented by First National Bank: The homestand is sure to get off to an explosive start with our largest fireworks show of the season to celebrate America’s birthday! This is our first home game on July 4 since the 2018 season, so you know we are pulling out all the stops. The RiverDogs will take the field in their red, white and blue jerseys and the post-game fireworks show will be set to the tune of All-American classics. This special Monday game is presented by 103.5 WEZL.
Wednesday, July 6, 7:05 p.m.: Wicked Wednesday presented by Wicked Weed: Following a day off, the series picks up with this midweek contest. Make sure to keep an eye out every Wednesday for a new wicked ticket deal. This week, we have a sweet deal for the whole family! A family four-pack of General Admission tickets is just $16 with the code:WEARE. With a purchase of four GA tickets, all additional tickets in general admission will also be just $4. In addition, Outer Banks star Charles Esten will be in attendance and performing the National Anthem.
Thursday, July 7, 7:05 p.m.: Boeing Military Appreciation Night/ Budweiser Thirsty Thursday: Our celebration of America continues with the second of three gigantic tributes to military members that we will host alongside Boeing this season. The gates will open early for a 5:00 p.m. softball game feauring the Air Force against the Navy. Members of the military and their families will receive a free ticket to the game by calling the RiverDogs box office. The team will also induct Colonel Marc Greene, U.S. Air Force and Master Sergeant Eddie Negrón of the U.S. Army to the Hall of Honor prior to the game. Get to your seat early as the National Anthem will be followed by a C-17 flyover! The Joint Base Charleston Honor Guard will present the colors and there will be a live performance of God Bless America during the seventh inning stretch. Also, there is a reason that Thursday nights at The Joe provide one of the best atmospheres in Minor League Baseball. As always, $1 beers are available throughout the ballpark all night long. $4 well cocktails will also be available during “happy hour” from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Enjoy live music in the Ashley View Pub courtesy of DJ DollaMenu. Bottoms up! Thursdays are presented by 95sx.
Friday, July 8, 7:05 p.m.: Friday Fireworks presented by REV Federal Credit Union/Boeing Red Shirt
Friday: The RiverDogs will shine a spotlight on active duty and retired military members and their families, while the team wears their brand-new red alternates on the field. The red jerseys will be auctioned to fans at the end of the season. Following every Friday night contest make sure to stick around for the best fireworks show in the Lowcountry! Enjoy this week’s fireworks along with a soundtrack of one-hit wonders. Fridays are presented by 103.5 WEZL and Live 5 News.
Saturday, July 9, 6:05 p.m.: Bubble Night/Breeze Airways Random Acts of Niceness/Saturdays Live at The Joe presented by Breeze Airways: The Joe will become the bubbliest ballpark in the country for one night. Everybody in the ballpark will be given a bottle of bubbles to open at the same time after the game concludes. A bubble machine will help set the tone during key moments throughout the night and we’ll blow your mind with bubble games between innings. Thanks to our friends at Breeze Airways, we are going to be giving away free flights during every inning on Niceness Night. Also, following a week of volunteering and spreading niceness in the community together, we’ll team with Breeze to recognize three non-profits in the ballpark. After the game, stick around for a light show featuring our LED ballpark lights! Saturdays are presented by 92.5 Kickin’ Country, 101.7 Chuck FM and FOX 24.
Sunday, July 10, 5:05 p.m.: MUSC Health Family Sunday/Holy City Sunday: Parking is free on every Sunday! Before, during and after each Sunday home game, we will make it all about the kids. From the video board, to between innings contests, and even the opportunity to run the bases, Sundays are sure to be a memorable day for the whole family. In addition, the team will be sporting their new Holy City uniforms. Sundays are presented by Mix 95.9, Star 99.7 and ABC News 4.
Nick Schnell is in his second stint with the Charleston RiverDogs, joining the team this June after playing 53 games last year. He plays outfield and hits in middle of the order.
Born and raised in the southernmost part of Indianapolis, Indiana, Schnell describes the city as a big city with a small town feel, where everybody knows everybody. He comes from a baseball family, as his older brother, Aaron, played college baseball at Belmont.
Growing up, Schnell went to Roncalli High School, a Catholic school in Indianapolis. This is where he realized that he would have an opportunity to extend his baseball career.
“I realized my freshman year that I would have a chance to play to play in college,” he said. “Going into my senior year is when I realized that I would have a chance to be drafted.”
He got his chance in 2018. With the 32nd pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, he was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the first round of the draft.
There was a lot on Schnell’s mind leading up to the draft. His Roncalli Royals were in the Region Championship the night before the draft, taking on their rival.
They won the game, and the day after the draft, Schnell sat on the field for about an hour and was able to just take in what had just happened. He ultimately decided to bypass his scholarship to play at Louisville and sign with the Rays.
Schnell was sent to the Florida Coast League, where he hit a home run in his first professional at bat; however, 18 games into the 2018 season, he felt a pop in his wrist on a foul ball that caused him to miss the rest of the season.
“It was a fluke thing,” he said. “The lunate bone in the wrist has a little hill in it, and when I took a swing, something broke.”
Schnell worked his way back and was ready for the start of Spring Training in 2019, when another injury forced him to miss time. He started feeling pain in his knee and tried to play through in it.
When he went to the athletic trainer, they found a fray on his ACL, which would be a six to eightweek recovery. This was a gradual injury from playing football and basketball growing up.
After the recovery, Schnell was sent to Princeton, the rookie ball team in the Rays organization, where in 37 games, he hit .286 with eight home runs and drove in 29 runs.
After that, he was sent to High-A Bowling Green, where he played his final 14 games to finish out the year. During that time, he hit .236 with an RBI.
Coming into the 2021 season, Schnell was sent to Charleston, where he played in 52 games for the RiverDogs before another injury halted his playing career. When the Rays sent him to a specialist, they found a small tear in his labrum. This injury took place during the 2020 season. When the coronavirus shut everything down, Schnell focused on weight lifting to get bigger and stronger.
“I tried to play through it,” said Schnell. “There was an outlet symptom, which is when my collarbone and
shoulder are close together, and it constricts the nerves to where my muscles cannot grow the way they are supposed to.”
During his time away from the game, he and RiverDogs teammate Cole Wilcox, who was also dealing with an injury, wanted to keep their minds on baseball during their recovery. That is when they started their podcast “Diamonds in the Rough.”
“We were just wasting time playing Mario Cart and darts,” said Schnell. “We were thinking about ways to keep our minds on baseball, and we wanted to start a podcast that talks about how life is in the minors,” said Schnell.
The show has grown since it began last year. They have signed multiple sponsorship deals and are sponsorship Prospects Live.
The podcast was not the only change in Schnell’s life during his time away from the game, as he also became a father for the first time. Eight weeks ago, he and his wife gave birth to their son, Bo.
“He has been the biggest blessing in my life,” said Schnell. “Being a dad is the best thing in the world. He and my wife live in Charleston as well and make all the trips with me.”
Through it all, Schnell has learned a lot about himself. There is a lot of pressure to perform at a high level that comes with being a high draft pick, and he felt that pressure.
“When you’re young, being drafted at 18, going through the injuries, I have learned a lot,” said Schnell. Have fun; it’s a game. Do not put so much pressure on yourself. Having my son has put things into perspective.”
Schnell has been a big part of the a RiverDogs team that finished just a game away from clinching a playoff spot in the first half of the Carolina League season, and his efforts will be crucial as the RiverDogs aim to clinch a spot in the second half.
