Photo Credit: MLB.com
CLEVELAND — Former BYU shortstop Daniel Schneemann was called up from Triple-A Columbus today to join the Cleveland Guardians, where he started at second base going 1-3 with a double and two RBI versus the Washington Nationals in his Major League Baseball debut.
Schneemann joined the Guardines after five seasons in the minor leagues, most recently with the Columbus Clippers of the International League. In 53 games with the Clippers in 2024, Schneemann hit .294 with 10 home runs and 39 RBI.
In three seasons at BYU from 2016-18 Schneemann appeared in 140 games, hitting .291 with 31 extra base hits and 76 RBI, while earning 2017 WCC Defensive Player of the Year honors for his play at shortstop. Following his junior season, he was selected by Cleveland in the 33rd round of the 2018 MLB Draft and became the seventh former Cougar to play in the Cleveland organization, joining Matt Carson, Jeremy Guthrie, Doug Howard, Carl Keliipuleole, Cory Snyder and Colby Ward.
In five seasons in the Cleveland farm system, Schneemann collected 379 hits, 40 home runs, 211 RBI, scored 235 runs and swiped 58 bases. With the mid-season callup, Schneemann joins former teammates Michael Rucker, who is in his fourth MLB season, and Justin Sterner who was called up to The Show by the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.
Rucker, who pitched for the Cougars from 2013-16, made his MLB debut with the Chicago Cubs in July 2021 and is now with the Philadelphia Phillies. Sterner pitched at BYU from 2018-20 with 17 starts and an 8-3 record. After three seasons in the minor leagues, most recently with the Durham Bulls, Sterner made his MLB debut on May 31, pitching two scoreless innings versus the Orioles at Camden Yards.
Schneemann's callup marks the first-time multiple former Cougars have made their MLB debut in the same season since Jaycob Brugman, Taylor Cole and Jacob Hannemann all debuted in 2017. Schneemann becomes BYU’s 27th alum to play Major League Baseball and the seventh to do so in Cleveland. The Guardians lead all franchises in former BYU players rostered.