The life of a minor-league baseball player can change in an instant.
Newly acquired RockHounds catcher JJ Schwarz didn’t even have time to move out of his apartment first.
“I was on the road when I got the news that I was coming here, so [my wife] was tasked
with packing up the apartment and driving out here,” said Schwarz.
One 14-hour drive later, he and his wife were back in Midland for the second time in his career.
He played 72 games with the RockHounds last season, batting .240 with 36 RBI.
The addition adds another veteran bat to a lineup that has struggled as of late.
“To get him back here where he’s gonna get a lot of playing time, it’s gonna be good for
his career, and definitely good for us,” said manager Bobby Crosby.
The 26-year-old was promoted to the Oakland A’s Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas, but saw
limited playing time, appearing in just eight games over a one-month stretch.
Schwarz said that he grew from the experience, especially when it came to getting in a good
routine, but is looking forward to more opportunities with the Double-A club.
”It’s good to be back, good to see all the faces, all my buddies that I came through the system with. Wasn’t playing too much in Vegas, so it’ll be good to get some reps in,” said Schwarz.
Hailing from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Schwarz spent most of his childhood around the game.
”Growing up, I was around it all the time,” he said. “Throughout middle school and high school my
dad was the coach for the [Florida] Marlins.
“Spent a lot of time in that clubhouse and really just fell in love with the game.”
His father, Jeff, not only coached, but also spent time in the majors as a pitcher, playing for the White Sox and Angels.
After an outstanding high school career, JJ Schwarz had a historic career for the Florida Gators.
Over his four years in Gainesville, Schwarz started and played in more games than any player in Gators history.
He is inside the Top 10 in 14 career categories for Florida, including RBIs, home runs and hits.
He led Florida to the College World Series, all while racking up accolades like Freshman Player of the Year, Freshman Hitter of the Year, and even earning All-SEC First Team honors in his senior year.
Schwarz also set the school record for home runs in a game, hitting four in a game against Stenson University in 2015.
After four years with the Gators, Schwarz was drafted by the Oakland A’s in the eighth round of the 2018 draft.
Since then, he’s spent five years grinding for his chance in the majors.
Schwarz believes that he just needs more consistency to make it to the major-league level.
”I’ll go through some hot spells, some cold spells, so I think it’s just putting it all together and showing what I’m capable of day in and day out,” said Schwarz.
Perhaps another trip through West Texas can awaken the magic that Schwarz showed in in the Sunshine State.
He was quickly inserted into the starting lineup for the RockHounds, scoring a run in Thursday’s 2-1 win over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
More than anything, Schwarz wants to prove to himself that he’s got what it takes.
“I would say that a big thing is just proving it to myself that I’m good enough to make it to the major leagues,” he said. “That’s been my goal since I was little.
“Getting to this level and seeing all the obstacles and how tough it really is, I think it’s just a challenge for myself. And I enjoy a good challenge.”
