Bio

Austin Schneider won a World Series and set a school record during his tenure at UT Tyler.

But his time there didn't end like it should've.

Schneider's second senior season should've seen him set the school's new all-time strikeout record. I mean, he'd already broken the record for strikeouts in a game by fanning 17 on a February Friday in 2020. That game earned him Division II National Pitcher of the Week honors.

It should've seen him continue his role in the starting rotation, one Schneider had solidified starting with his junior year. Perhaps his biggest start there actually came as a sophomore in '18, the year they won it all. After coming out of the bullpen almost all year, the technical Texan made his second career start in that year's Division III World Series.

It should've seen him build on a stupendous season that was ultimately stolen. In a COVID-shortened '20, he was 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA. He'd thrown a complete game shutout, one of his three quality starts in a total of seven appearances.

"I was really, really rolling. I think I was third in strikeouts in D2 with like 63 in like 39 innings. It helped that I had a couple games with like 15, and then I set the school record. I was on pace to break the all-time strikeout record that season."

Luckily, the righty could return for another season, and with anything close to the terrific '20, the record was in sight.

Schneider was stellar starting off. The Fort Worth native netted a 2-1 record and a 3.80 ERA after 23.2 innings spread across four starts. He'd stuck out 27 batters and walked 15, helping his WHIP wind up at 1.44.

And then, "about halfway through my second senior year, I saw the doctor and he thought I just had a tendon strain. I rehabbed for six weeks in Tyler and thought I was back up to where I was."

Spoiler alert: Schneider was not back up to where he was. And that realization abruptly ended his Tyler career.

It wasn't until his stop in St. Cloud that showed him how serious the strain was.

"I went off to the Northwoods League and it turns out I should've had surgery six weeks prior to that. Just pain, no single pop. It was kind of like an overuse type of thing."

Turns out he tore his UCL, and that means the 1.2 innings he pitched in the Northwoods League are his last against live hitting.

All that happened around a year ago. By now, Schneider's been cleared to mix it up on the mound again. But he's gotta take it slow.

"I should be about good to go for about three or four innings, 45 to 60 pitches, in a game. Then just build up after that."

Seems like a good place to start for the season that starts Schneider's professional career.