Mike Samela, Amherst College Graduate and Worcester Tornadoes Catcher, Still Has Sights Set on Majors (Podcast)

by NESN Staff on Wed, Aug 29, 2012 at 4:03PM

Mike Samela is keeping the dream alive — one game at a time, one at-bat at a time, one pitch at a time.

Samela, a 2012 graduate, enjoyed a successful baseball career at Amherst College, getting to the point where playing professionally after college became an option. He never heard his name called at this year’s MLB draft, despite getting scouted and going through the stressful predraft process, but Samela has hardly given up his big league aspirations.

The young catcher has since caught on with the Worcester Tornadoes of the independent Can-Am League, and he’s continuing to hone his skills, hopefully to the point where he’ll someday get another chance to show MLB teams what he’s all about. It should only take some fine-tuning for Samela, as he led Division III Amherst in batting average (.380), runs (30), hits (46), RBIs (33) and slugging percentage (.562) during his senior season.

Samela accomplished all that while balancing a schedule that also included his academics and a standout football career, showing the passion with which he tackled all challenges.

Samela caught up with NESN.com recently to discuss his college career, what the predraft process was like, how he felt when he realized he wasn’t drafted and what he’s now looking to do as a member of the Tornadoes.

Listen in the player below, or subscribe on iTunes to download it there.