Entering college, many athletes have dreams and aspirations of reaching the top of their respective sport.
In baseball, the ultimate goal is being drafted by an MLB organization, working through the minor leagues and getting a shot in the big leagues.
That goal is somewhat attainable for Division I ballplayers, but the odds become slimmer in Division III ball.
“For a D-III guy to rise through the ranks, you’re probably looking at a minimum of three, four years,” Johns Hopkins baseball coach Bob Babb said. “… How long are guys willing to put off high-earning jobs that they like for that 1-in-100,000 chance of making it to the big leagues?”
Babb, entering his 46th and final season with the Blue Jays, has had the opportunity to coach scores of top baseball players at the Division III level and win plenty of hardware in the process.
However, his coaching philosophy differs from other college coaches, much of it due to where he’s coaching.
Johns Hopkins is considered a top-10 university nationwide, boasting an acceptance rate of roughly 6 percent and some of the best academic programs anywhere in the world.
Outside of lacrosse, athletes who come to Baltimore to play for the Blue Jays aren’t necessarily there as part of a journey to play professionally. However, many have put up incredible numbers during their time there.
Shawn Steuerer is one of those athletes. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound senior infielder entered his senior season as a career .388/.453/.727 hitter in 136 games, having helped the Jays to a 103-37 mark throughout the past three years.
“I’ve told some of the guys around me and my coaches that I think this is the best I’ve felt going into a season at this point in the year,” Steuerer said. “… This offseason, I’ve been reflecting on my time here and realizing that this is my final dance.”
Steuerer is a team captain and has been a cornerstone of the program since his freshman year.
A two-time All-American and three-time All-Centennial Conference selection, the Wellington, Fla., native is the all-time home run leader for the Blue Jays, coming into his senior season with 42. He is well within striking distance of the all-time RBI record, too.
“My preparation this offseason has been a little more intense to make sure I get a good start to the season,” Steuerer said. “… By the middle of the season, you’re getting so many reps, you’re in the swing of things. Leading up to the season, I’ve tried to make every live at-bat count.”
Steuerer has always found a way to get hot at the right time, which is reflected in his performance. Now, he’s setting himself up for the future, too.
“Over the last decade, the emphasis has been to set yourself up to get the best possible job you can upon graduation,” Babb said. “Oftentimes, it means kids are taking internships right after their freshman year and their parents encourage them to do so.”
Steuerer, an economics major, has followed suit, setting himself up for professional success outside the diamond. He has already secured a job after college with brokerage and investment bank Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., having interned there in the summer of 2024 in equity sales and training.
Given his dominant performance at Hopkins, though, numerous summer leagues reached out to him with opportunities to join. Even now, several scouts keep tabs on Steuerer.
However, when something guaranteed pops up, that takes precedence.
“It’s a stressful thing senior year spring having to balance playing baseball and applying for jobs,” Steuerer said. “… I have a lighter academic load, so it’s about focusing on what I can do to have the best season possible.”
Steuerer hasn’t ruled baseball out of the equation, even entertaining the possibility of a pro career if the stars align, but as a senior for the Jays, he’s looking to send Babb off with a national title.
“There’s extra motivation for me and everyone on the team to be ready to go this year,” Steuerer said.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Johns Hopkins Athletics
Issue 291: February / March 2025
Originally published Feb. 19, 2025