Unlikely hero emerges for UM
After fighting way back onto roster, Abrams helps steer ’Canes to CWS
CORAL GABLES — There was a point not long ago that Sam Abrams thought his Miami career was over.
The pitcher, a local kid who’d long dreamed of playing for the Hurricanes and had made it a reality by earning a spot on the team as a walk-on, had just been cut from the Hurricanes’ roster.
In between studying and doing part-time accounting work, Abrams began applying to other schools, wondering if it was time to leave Coral Gables and follow his dreams elsewhere.
He opted to stay and worked his way back into Miami’s bullpen after a year-long hiatus. And on Saturday afternoon, Abrams became more than just a hard-working, infrequently used reliever.
He became the latest addition to UM baseball lore, his slim 5-foot-9, 177-pound frame helping pitch the Hurricanes to the College World Series for the first time since 2008.
“I can’t believe having to come back for a fifth year after what happened my sophomore year ended up working out perfectly,” said Abrams. “I mean, it’s a dream come true honestly.”
Before Miami secured its College World Series berth with a 10-3 win over Virginia Commonwealth on Saturday, Abrams had pitched a career-high of just 3 2⁄ innings,
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that coming in 2011 against Florida. Though he had a 1.47 ERA, he’d seen action in just13 games this season. He had one career win.
Still, when the Hurricanes found themselves in a jam with the bases loaded and no one out in a 3-3 ball game, it was Abrams to whom Miami coach Jim Morris turned. And the Miami Killian grad who earned his master’s degree during his last year of eligibility with the Hurricanes responded.
Abrams entered the game in the fourth inning and struck out the first two VCU hitters he faced. He then got Rams left fielder James Bunn to fly out, ending the inning and keeping VCU from scoring.
As Abrams walked into the dugout, he was mobbed by teammates, including closer Bryan Garcia, who would come on to pitch in the ninth inning and get the final outs that ensured Miami’s victory.
“It was obviously, a huge moment,” Abrams said. “At the end, I definitely got emotional. ... When I saw two outs, I knew I had a chance to get out of it 100 percent, so I just had to zone in and do the job.”
Abrams went on to pitch a career-high four innings, retiring12 of the13 hitters he faced. As he worked, Miami’s offense continued its charge, giving him a onerun lead in the fifth and then tacking on five runs in the seventh inning to further distance the Hurricanes from the Rams.
While the Hurricanes worked, Abrams became a local Internet sensation. His name trended in South Florida on social media, much to the delight of his younger brother, Dylan. His mother Lisa, a Miami alumna, and his sister, Alexa, — with whom he’d watched plenty of games at Mark Light as a kid — celebrated.
And his teammates, the ones who often see their names in headlines, hit towering home runs and earn All-ACC and All-American honors, didn’t bother to hide their excitement over Abrams’ big moment.
“Sam’s that guy that comes to the field every day, never complains, always has a great attitude and he wants the ball in every situation,” said Hurricanes’ slugger David Thompson, the nation’s leader in home runs and RBI. “We’re all so pumped for what he did [Saturday]. He was the reason we won this game.”
Now, Abrams, his family and all of the Hurricanes prepare for the next step: a showdown with in-state rival Florida in the College World Series, which begins Saturday.
“With the journey I’ve had … it’s a special moment going to Omaha,” Abrams said.