Former Lions pitcher Mac Sceroler had his childhood dream come true when he was drafted to the Cincinnati Reds team in the 5th round of the Major League Baseball draft. File Photo/The Lion’s Roar

Former Lions pitcher Mac Sceroler was recently drafted to the Cincinnati Reds in the fifth round of the Major League Baseball draft. During his time at the university, Baseball Head Coach Matt Riser describes the type of athlete Sceroler is. 

“As good of a pitcher as he is, he’s an even better person off the field,” said Riser. “He embodies what we want out of our student athletes. He works extremely hard, obviously plays extremely hard, pitches extremely hard, competes extremely well on the field, but he does that even more off the field preparing himself to have himself ready for that moment.”

Riser praised Sceroler for his advancements in pitching speed and personality. 

“People see the arm and the talent, but what they really need to get to know is the person more importantly because he’s a young man that embodies the work ethic but also embodies the core values of our program,” said Riser. “He is always willing to help out and do whatever he can to help the next generation come behind him and is selfless in all his procedures.”

In the past four years, Sceroler is one of 12 Lions players to have been drafted into the Majors.  With such a successful program Riser describes what type of player he and his staff look for while recruiting. 

“You honestly have to recruit and have a vision for these players coming into your program,” said Riser. “You’ve got to identify the right players that not only have the talent to do it but also have the ability to develop and believe in what we’re selling, and I think that’s what we’ve hit on. We’ve not only hit on the talent side of things, but we’ve also hit on the right student athlete as well, one who is selfless, believes in what we’re doing and cares for the team over themselves.”

When looking for these athletes, Riser and his staff have a particular type of sportsman they are looking for to add to their blue-collar program: an athlete who understands that once he joins the Lions team, his actions will not only represent himself, but he is now representing the coaching staff, his teammates and the university. His staff keep these values close to heart to build not just a baseball player but to help build a young man.

“Faith, family and baseball, we want you to follow those things and absolutely in that order,” said Riser. “That’s the type of environment you’re coming into, and if you don’t have those core values and moral ethics to understand what’s right and wrong and be strong enough as an individual then you have to stand up for those core values of what’s right. I think those are the three things that no doubt will set us apart from other programs.” 

The baseball coaches and staff produce players that play with a lot of heart, but when the last inning finishes, the players take those values and enthusiasm that the staff instilled in them to use in their day-to-day lives and Sceroler is taking that mind set to the Major League.

“I just want to come out here and show everybody that I came to work,” said Sceroler. “I’m going to work hard, and I have the desire. I just want to put a good mojo on Southeastern and let them know that everybody that comes from Southeastern knows a bunch of good people who work hard and play the game right.”

Sceroler is currently in Minnesota and is uncertain about his future with the Reds of when he will play. 

Even though Sceroler is officially a professional now, he will always be a part of the lion community that wishes the best success for his baseball career. 

“I just want to thank all the lion nation for my three years at Southeastern,” said Sceroler. “It’s been the best three years of my life, and I learned a lot there. I thank all the great people there. To all the baseball players now, if you got it, keep working and don’t stop till you reach your goal.”

Correction: In an earlier version of this article that was posted on lionsroarnews.com and printed in the July 11th issue of The Lion's Roar, Mac Sceroler was identified as being drafted in the 25th round by the Cincinnati Reds. He was drafted in the 5th round.