Collegiate Times

Growing up, just about every boy at one point or another dreams of making it to the major leagues as a professional baseball player. Very few make it. Even fewer are the kids who are lucky enough to have dads that played in the major leagues to guide them. Virginia Tech outfielder Steve Bumbry hit the jackpot.

Steve's father, Al Bumbry, played 14 seasons in the majors, mostly for the Baltimore Orioles. He was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1973 and an All-Star in 1980. Although Al Bumbry finished his professional playing career before Steve was born, the freshman still feels very fortunate about his situation.

"It's just a great environment being around that kind of person with those connections and being involved in baseball," Bumbry said.

Even though he has lived with an expert on the game, Steve is quick to point out that his father never put too much pressure on him. His coaches have also noticed not the faintest sign of pressure that could be accredited to his roots.

"In certain situations and with certain kids and families in that background it would (add pressure), but not with Steven," said head coach Peter Hughes. "He's a great worker. He shuts his mouth and comes to play every day."

Even as a freshman, Steve has already received an immense amount of playing time, mostly in left field, but also occasionally playing in center. The key to his versatility is simply pure speed.

"Getting great jumps on the ball is not something that's easy to teach, it's more instinct and it allows me to be a better defensive player," Bumbry said.

The Baltimore area native's swiftness not only helps him in the field, but is also a major key to his offensive success. He stole 22 bases last season as a senior at Dulaney High School in Cockeysville, Maryland, and once stole five bases in a single game.

As if his advantageous speed and natural fielding skills were not enough, Bumbry is also powerful with the bat. During his senior season, he led the county with eight home runs. He has taken his already above-average hitting skills that he developed in high school, worked hard in the off-season, and is said to have developed a swing potent enough to face ACC pitching.

"He's got quick hands, loose wrists," said volunteer coach Tom Mackor who specializes in working with the outfielders on their defense and the hitters on their swings. "We've done a lot of work with his pitch selection to get him counts that are in his favor but his swing is definitely ACC ready and he's going to be a great player for us for four years."

His high school statistics confirm that Bumbry is able to live up to the hype and the label of "Al Bumbry's son." But Steve is out to write his own story, not to be a continuation of his father's. He is certainly his own man with his own goals and his own standards. He never settles for anything but his best.

Although Bumbry sounds too good to be true at times, he has certainly not become a complete or flawless player. There is always room for improvement no matter how much ability one possesses.

"Right now we're working on just staying close in the count and his pitch selection," Mackor said. "Just getting into a favorable hitter's count and being more disciplined at the plate so he can get pitches that he can drive."

Bumbry, who has the potential to be a leader on the team in years to come, remains quite grounded about his life so far, especially for a youthful freshman.

"You wouldn't even know his dad was an unbelievable big league player," Hughes said. "He doesn't talk about it and he doesn't hang his hat on it. He comes to work every day to become the player he wants to be, not the player his dad was. He's a tremendous worker and a great teammate."

Steve Bumbry already has the attributes of a team leader. He is admired and commended by his teammates. The descriptions and compliments paid to him by his coaches are more representative of a seasoned, middle-aged veteran of the game than a teenager playing his first season of collegiate ball. The sole difference between Bumbry and other leaders of the game is that Steve still has years, maybe even decades, to shape his attributes into becoming a stronger player and an even better teammate.