Buoyed by Blue Jays' Support, Davis Schneider Finally Gets the Hit He Was Searching For

Davis Schneider's journey to his first professional hit has been a long and winding one, but he finally got it Saturday night in front of the Blue Jays' home crowd.

The 23-year-old catcher was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 16th round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of North Carolina. He spent the 2020 season at the team's alternate training site due to the COVID-19 pandemic and spent last year at High-A Vancouver, where he hit .279 with 12 home runs and 59 RBIs.

Schneider started this season at Double-A New Hampshire, where he hit .295 with five home runs and 28 RBIs in 55 games. He was promoted to Triple-A Buffalo on June 28 and has been hitting .267 with two home runs and 11 RBIs in 37 games.

Schneider's first hit came in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Rochester Red Wings. He lined a 1-1 curveball into left-center field for a single. The Blue Jays went on to win the game 10-0.

Schneider said it was a great feeling to finally get his first hit. "It was a long time coming," he said. "I've been working hard all year, so it was nice to see it pay off."

Schneider said the support of the Blue Jays' fans helped him relax and focus on his at-bats. "The fans have been great all year," he said. "They're always cheering us on, and it really makes a difference."

Schneider's hit was a big moment for him and for the Blue Jays. It showed that he is a player who can hit at the professional level, and it gave the Blue Jays another option at catcher.

The Blue Jays are currently in first place in the American League East, and Schneider could be a valuable part of their playoff run. He is a good defensive catcher who can also hit for power and average.

Schneider is excited about the opportunity to help the Blue Jays win a World Series. "That's the goal," he said. "We have a great team, and I think we can do it."