LADERA RANCH, Calif. — To grasp what drives new Rangers manager Skip Schumaker, it’s essential to know about Clemente Bonilla.
Clemente Bonilla, a well-named figure in baseball, has spent nearly two decades coaching at Capistrano Valley Christian School in Orange County. Before this, he had a brief minor league career and played indies, using baseball as a way to explore his calling.
“He is the most genuinely kind person,” Schumaker noted over breakfast on a sunny Southern California morning that seemed ideal for surfing, despite having to recount his life story instead.
“For me, he was the top competition.”
The Day in the Life of Skip Schumaker
The plan is to spend a day with Jared Michael Schumaker, known as “Skip” since T-ball, where he earned the nickname due to a crowded roster of Jarelds. Athletically gifted yet unable to skip as a child, the name has since become prophetic.
Schumaker’s former teammates describe him as someone with whom you want to share life. The day includes a breakfast with him and Michael Young—his close friend—followed by a speaking engagement, a visit to his home, and observing his son Brody’s high school practice, where he’ll pitch batting practice.
A Driven Baseball Man
In this narrative emerges a disciplined, devoted baseball figure. More importantly, he embodies principles of marriage, parenting, and a commitment to his faith, shaped by a teammate’s gift of a Bible 20 years ago, emphasizing that “all answers lie within.”
Understanding Schumaker’s journey necessitates the Clemente Bonilla backstory. In their high school days, both were invited to try out for the prestigious Area Code Games. Schumaker, a junior hitting .589, aimed to impress but didn’t make it past the first round, while Bonilla did. This drove Schumaker to keep “Clemente Bonilla” written on his hat, reminding him to strive harder through his athletics and career.
