McBride Still Driving Toward Big League Dream

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Matt McBride didn’t have far to go from Liberty High School to Lehigh University.

His journey towards playing Major League Baseball has taken a few longer and often painful twists and turns.

“Growing up in Bethlehem, baseball was always at the top of my list to do,” said McBride, in his sixth season in the Cleveland Indians organization.

For the first time in four years, McBride is playing with a strong shoulder. That gives the 25-year-old hope for a big season with the Indians’ top minor-league team, the Columbus Clippers of the Class AAA International League. And that could lead to a dream come true – a call to Cleveland for a Major League debut.

“My shoulder feels good, and it is good to get back to catching,” he said. “I think it is a valuable tool that I can catch, play the outfield and first base.”

The past two seasons, he didn’t catch at all. He did continue to hit, helping two teams win championships.

He split the 2009 season between Class A Kinston (N.C.) and Double-A Akron, hitting .287 overall with 18 homers and 99 RBI. He was an integral part of Akron’s run to the Eastern League championship. Last year between Akron and Columbus, he batted .279 with 21 homers and 75 RBI. He helped Columbus win the International League title, then beat the Pacific Coast League champion Tacoma Rainiers for the Triple-A Championship.

McBride grew up watching a winner.

“I was a Phillies fan,” he said. “I loved the ’93 team that went to the World Series. I liked Darren Daulton, (John) Kruk, (Lenny) Dykstra. I watched them all the time and wondered what it would be like to be in the World Series.”

The son of George and Linda McBride spent the first five years of his life in Phillipsburg, "Just two or three blocks from the high school.

“My family was very supportive. My dad would play catch with me all the time. He still does. He’ll flip the ball to me for some indoor batting practice in the off season back home.”

Though his father never played pro ball, McBride thanks him and many area coaches who helped him develop.

“I can’t single out one teacher or one coach because I am afraid that I will leave somebody out,” he said. “I don’t want to do that. They were very important in helping me get on track to go to college, to become a ballplayer.

“I had very good coaching in the North Central Little League, all the way through Liberty High School and then to Lehigh (University).”

As a junior at Lehigh, he hit .417 with 19 doubles, 12 homers, 56 runs, 61 RBI in 56 games in 2006. Despite his size, he also was 22-for-27 in stolen base attempts.  In three college seasons overall, he hit .350 with 56 doubles, 17 homers and 125 RBI in 149 games.

The Indians selected him in the second round of the 2006 draft and McBride made a quick impression, batting .272 with four homers and 31 RBI in just 52 games of rookie ball at Mahoning Valley, about 90 miles east of Cleveland. The next year, he hit .283 at Class A Lake County, 20 miles from Cleveland.

Late in the season, however, he injured his shoulder. He had surgery in November 2007 and played in only a total of 45 games in 2008, spending most of his time rehabbing and learning to play first base and the outfield since his shoulder was not strong enough to handle the rigors of throws as a catcher.

“I didn’t want that, but now I’m almost back to throwing the way I did then,” he said. “Coming back from that was a lot more difficult than I imagined. Through it all, I was always able to hit, thank goodness.

“I love to hit. My approach is to keep it simple, not chase pitches out of the zone, find one I like and drive it. More than anything, I don’t like giving an at bat away. I want to make the pitcher work and get a good swing at a good pitch. I do that and even if I make an out, it’s a good time up there for me. If I take that approach up there every time, I’ll get my fair share of hits.”

McBride opened scouts’ eyes at Liberty, where as a senior he batted .450 with five homers, 31 RBI and a .609 on-base percentage. He was a three-time All-Lehigh Valley Conference choice.

“I don’t have one specific memory of playing in Bethlehem,” he said. “Going to the state finals was a lot of fun. Winning the Patriot League championship at Lehigh was special. I stayed in contact with players from our state tournament team. What a great bunch of guys.”

Veteran Lehigh coach Sean Leary wanted McBride to play for the Mountain Hawks. McBride was eager to play for the “hometown” university, too. In his first college at bat, he lined a two-run single with the bases loaded. He was named a freshman All-American after batting .366 with 35 RBIs.

“I still follow what’s going on at home,” he said. “The Internet makes it easy.”

McBride’s entire focus is on baseball these days. He has enjoyed being on the staff of the Lehigh Valley Baseball Academy and intends to return to college back home.

“I want to get my degree in political science,” he said. “I have one year left. I will do it.”

This summer, however, he hopes to be asked to make the 130-mile drive from Columbus to Cleveland to play in the majors.