By Lucas Casaletto

Canadian Baseball Network

TORONTO - John Schneider, a 13th-round draft selection of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002, can’t put an exact number on the concussions he suffered - it might be two, or three, he admits - that ultimately put an end to his dream of becoming a major league catcher.

Like other young athletes before him, Schneider was forced into a life-altering decision. He could either continue to play sparingly in double and triple-A or look at alternatives. It was then, at age 28, that Schneider compromised, and, with the help of the Blue Jays, accepted a position to become hitting coach of the Gulf Coast Blue Jays ahead of the 2008 season.

“It was concussions, it was back surgery that I had in 2006 and 2007 that made me realize my time was up as a player,” Schneider told the Canadian Baseball Network.

“Every player has that point they reach where they go ‘OK, I made it as far as I could.’ It made the most sense at the time, with having an offer from the Jays to stay right in the game that year, it made sense for me to turn the page and get an early start on a career that I definitely wanted, which was coaching.”

Akin to the top prospects he’s had to privilege to manage, which include Vladimir Guerrero Jr (Montreal, Que.)., Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio and Danny Jansen, Schneider has risen swiftly through the Blue Jays’ system and coaching ranks. In his first season as manager of New Hampshire (double-A), Schneider was named Eastern League Manager of the Year after guiding the Fisher Cats to a 76-62 record. Now in the playoffs, the Fisher Cats are one win shy of the EL title, proving that, years later, Schneider’s decision to step away from playing the only game he’s ever known was the right one.

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Schneider’s managerial career began in 2009 when he was named manager of the GCL Blue Jays. At the time, the promotion made him the youngest manager in affiliated baseball. After a brief stint in the GCL, Schneider was promoted to class-A Short-Season Vancouver in the Northwest League the following campaign. Managing a team that rostered noteworthy right-handers Noah Syndergaard and Aaron Sanchez, the young skipper helped guide the Canadians to its first league title in the organization’s history.

In the ensuing four years, Schneider split time with the GCL Blue Jays and Canadians before landing with the class-A Lansing Lugnuts in 2016. Despite missing the postseason with Lansing, it was then Schneider began to get a look at the new wave of top talent, most notably pitchers, including Ryan Borucki, Sean Reid-Foley and TJ Zeuch.

Before the 2017 season, Schneider got the call once again. This time, he’d been promoted to manage the likes of Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Anthony Alford, Jansen, Guerrero Jr. and Bichette in class A-Advanced Dunedin.

“What is most important is that you have to teach the kids to play every day,” Schneider said of his approach to mentoring young athletes. “You have to teach them what it’s like to be a professional. You have to make sure that when they get down to the field that they have a solid routine to get ready every night. You have a different goal for each player at each level as opposed to double and triple-A, and you want to preach what we’re doing as an organization.”

Backed by terrific performances from its bright stars, Dunedin stormed its way to the postseason, eventually earning and sharing the Florida State League title with the Palm Beach Cardinals. The win marked the second time Schneider was responsible for managing a team to its first title in team history.

With his group entering the new season at an all-time high, Schneider earned his third and most recent promotion, this time with New Hampshire. Joining him were Guerrero Jr., Bichette, Biggio, Reid-Foley and Zeuch, among the club’s most recognized names.

Fisher Cats’ top 2018 offensive performers and pitchers

“It’s been fun, you know, it really has. I’ve said this before this year, but you don’t take years like this for granted,” Schneider said of his team’s success.

“The talent that we’ve had, the personalities, it’s been a lot of fun. Our biggest goal, my biggest point of emphasis to start the year was just to have a positive winning culture, and kind of understanding it’s a very talented team, and I promised to make sure that we understood how to win, and we tried to really set a foundation of what is important on, and off the field.”

Among the long list of young players that Schneider managed over the years, there’s one, in particular, that continues to exceed expectations under his watch. Guerrero Jr., baseball’s best prospect, has garnered constant and well-deserved attention at every level - specifically over his prolific skill set at the plate. Schneider, who's been around Vlad since 2017 with Dunedin, says any concern over his defensive ability at third base has been overblown.

“Let me begin by saying I do believe he’ll be able to stay at third base in the long run,” Schneider said. “The area of improvement has been his defence this year. I think you can call Vladdy at any time of the day or night and tell him to grab a bat and face someone in the box and he’d be up to the challenge.”

“…The defensive part of it, to see him put the work in every day while he was here was remarkable. For him to lead what we were doing and understand what he needed to improve on, and then go out and put the work in, was remarkable.

With many pundits quick to point to Vlad’s defence as his only glaring weakness, Schneider reiterated how committed the 19-year-old is to his craft.

“You can’t forget about the hitting because that’s what he really is going to continue to get better at, which is scary, I think,” he added. “But those things, the defensive part of it, the footwork, the angles to his left and right, coming in on bunts, the way he got better at that, the way that he was a leader amongst our guys in the clubhouse, was just really cool to watch this year.”

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As Schneider continues to grow as a young manager, he says he’s embraced the analytical side, pointing to sabermetrics as a key component and resource he’s used throughout his transition from each level. With several front offices, specifically, the Houston Astros, expanding their analytics department over the years, Schneider agrees that numbers can play a significant part in assessing a player - and team’s - performance.

“I definitely am a believer in them (sabermetrics). We definitely use them here. I think it has an impact because if you’re ignoring tendencies, you’re not evolving with the game,” he said.

“I think this is where people have different opinions. Are they good? Absolutely. Do I use them? Absolutely. But you can never lose sight of the person, and you can never lose sight of what you know how a competitor is on the field.”

With news that the Blue Jays and longtime manager John Gibbons are expected to mutually part ways at the end of the 2018 season, there’s speculation that the front office will seek out a manager that believes in the use of sabermetrics, among other qualifications. Schneider says he’s cognizant of the way it impacts the sport but admits he has to trust his judgment, too.

“You have to use numbers, you have to trust tendencies, and you also have to trust people. There’s going to be times numbers say this is the right matchup, and your heart and your head are telling you something may be better. It’s (analytics) definitely useful. I think we, as an organization, will continue to use them, but you have to use them the right way.”

Citing examples from his experience in New Hampshire, Schneider says he went against what the numbers were saying and that it worked out, though it did backfire on him, as well. Schneider also admitted that, over the course of the season, the Blue Jays provided the Fisher Cats with advanced information for different opponents, forcing his coaching staff to make adjustments accordingly through the use of analytics.

“It comes down to trusting the numbers but also trusting the person,” Schneider said. “If you’re not evolving with trends, you’re just kind of sitting there doing nothing. As a coach or manager, you have to very rarely say ‘Well that’s how it’s always been done’ and you have to be open to new ideas. You have to take each and every number and the information that’s being given to you, and it’s my job how to best put it in play with each player.”

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With rosters expanded and the season quickly coming to an end, the Blue Jays are already getting a glimpse at the future. Several prospects, such as Jonathan Davis, Borucki, Jansen, and Reid-Foley, among a few others, have all had the chance to showcase their talents at the major league level, with others expected to get the call as early as 2019. As he diligently prepares for his club’s playoff matchups, Schneider says he couldn’t be more proud of the familiar faces currently donning a Blue Jays jersey. After once hoping to get the call to the majors as a player, the former backstop might get that chance after all, only in a different position.

“For me, personally, that’s something I aspire to, whenever that may happen,” Schneider said of his dream to someday manage Guerrero Jr., Bichette and others with the Blue Jays.

“I have a ton of respect for Gibby and the people that are there now. It would be cool. I’ve heard people talk about it briefly. I try not to get too far ahead. I try not to lose sight of who I am. I definitely think the players' futures are bright. You know, for me, hopefully, it’s at some point as well, whenever that is, wherever that is. Hopefully, I’m fortunate enough for that to be with this organization, the one that gave me a chance so many years ago,” he said.

“It's is something I aspire to. That’s my hope, and it’s my goal. I try to put that possibility in the distance, but not too far distance.”