On Saturday, June 7, the life of Staples grad David Speer ’10 was changed forever. Speer was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 27th round of the amateur draft.

“I was shocked to see my name go up there,” Speer said. “It took me a little while to believe it, but now I’m filled with excitement.”

Coach McFarland, the varsity baseball coach at Staples, had been “watching the draft ticker all day,” and was thrilled for Speer when his name appeared on screen. “I knew he was going to get drafted, I just didn’t know when,” McFarland said.

As for the time Speer spent at Staples under McFarland, Speer believed that the program helped to shape the pitcher he has become.

“The program really set me in the right direction and got me used to winning,” Speer said. Speer became very used to winning, with a 21-5 record as a Staples varsity pitcher, making him the all-time winningest pitcher at Staples.

McFarland has one of those wins engraved in his memory: the FCIAC Championship game in Speer’s sophomore year. The Wreckers were underdogs against Westhill, but Speer dominated them, allowing only one unearned run and four hits, allowing Staples to edge out a 3-1 victory. “As a 15 year-old kid, to shut down that lineup, that was a special day,” McFarland said.

Speer will be reporting to the Mahoning Valley Scrapers, the New York Penn League team affiliated with the Cleveland Indians, for a season that starts this Friday, June 13.

As many Staples students will look to emulate Speer’s success, he has but one piece of advice.

“Keep on working,” Speer said. “Don’t settle for being good.”