One Belleville basher to another, Daubach mentors Millas’ on his climb to the big leagues

Belleville native Brian Daubach knows how to navigate the winding, thorny path to Major League Baseball.

The 1990 West graduate toiled in the minors for seven seasons before working his way up and ultimately spending eight seasons in the big leagues. He now hopes to impart his wisdom and guiding experiences on fellow Belleville native Drew Millas.

Millas, a Belleville East graduate, was promoted on May 23 to the Rochester Red Wings, the Nationals’ Triple-A affiliate. His hitting coach is none other than Daubach, the former Boston Red Sox slugger known as the “Belleville Basher.”

“He’s been really encouraging just telling me to stay confident, trust the process and trust myself,” Millas said of Daubach. “So far he’s been awesome. I can talk to him about anything. He’s constantly trying to help. It’s really nice to be here with him and have him around for sure.”

Millas naturally was thrilled about the promotion to the triple-A International League.

“I was very excited,” he said. “Just to get the opportunity and I kind of earned my way to this spot. It feels great. I’m excited to be here and be around a bunch of veteran guys who can teach me about the game and who I can learn from. It’s just a blessing to be here. I thank God ever day. And I’m going to try to make the most of it.”

Millas was drafted out of Missouri State University by the Oakland A’s in the seventh round of the 2019 draft and was traded to the Nationals organization as part of a blockbuster deadline deal that included Max Scherzer, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber.

He’s managed to distinguish himself in an organization stacked with young catchers, including Washington starter Keibert Ruiz. Millas has stood out for his defense, but has improved himself as a switch hitter with some power.

“He looks great. We’re excited to have him,” Daubach said a couple days after Millas joined the club. “He’s a very athletic catcher. He can run. He has a good arm. He’s got some power from both sides. He can run for a catcher and, really, for any player.

“I saw him in spring training and we talked a lot in the batting cages. I’m excited to see him play a little bit more.”

Through games of Tuesday, June 6, the 6-foot, 198 pound Millas was batting .250 with one home run and six RBI spanning 36 plate appearances over nine games for the 27-29 Red Wings. Millas also has gunned down three attempted base stealers.

“Things have been going really well,” Millas said. “I’m learning a lot. There are a lot of different types of pitchers and I’m learning the ways they pitch me. I’m learning how they come at me and I’m adjusting my routines daily and trying to get better and prepare better myself for the games. So far it’s been great.”

In his first game at Triple-A on May 23, Millas delivered an RBI triple in the 10th inning to help Rochester to a 5-3 road win against Toledo.

“It was a fastball over the plate and I got a decent swing on it,” Millas said. “It was nice to go out there and produce for my team. Dauby’s been a big help so far and getting that first one of the way was very nice, yes.

Daubach himself knows the rigors of Minor League Baseball and the perseverance required to make the majors. After the New York Mets selected Daubach out of Belleville West in the 17th round of the 1990 amateur draft, he worked eight years before making his debut with the Florida Marlins in 1998.

He offered Millas several pieces of measured advice, such as zeroing in on the present and not trying to do too much.

“You always want to be in the major leagues, but, right now, we have a game to get ready for in Toldeo, Ohio, and you can’t be worried about what’s going on in Washington, D.C.,” Daubach said May 25 ahead of the Red Wings’ next game against the Mud Hens. “Any time you get to next higher level, you try to get the guys reel it in. They want to make an impression quickly and can try to do too much.

“Just focus on today. Try to do your homework, do the best you can and if you do get a chance in the major leagues, do the same thing. Have a routine every day. Keep your head where your feet are at. Do the best you can when you get called up ... it’s not a whole lot different in the major leagues than at Triple-A.”

Millas said Daubach is particularly helpful with both the physical and mental side of hitting.

“A lot of it at this level is mental,” Millas said. “There are only very minor physical adjustments that happen here in Triple-A. At the lower levels, they make huge adjustments with your swing. Here, you pretty much just go out and play. And Dauby is great with those minor physical cues to get you in right place and right frame of mind to hit. He’s always encouraging and has been very helpful.

“Basically, everyone is there physically in Triple-A. He knows that and does a great job with hitters. With his big league experience, he can teach you all the mental things to keep your head on straight.”

Daubach initially learned of Millas’ promotion through another Belleville connection. Luke Patton, Millas’ uncle, was a catcher at West and one of Daubach’s high school teammates. Millas’ mother, the former Nell Patton, is Luke’s sister and daughter of longtime Belleville East baseball coach Larry Patton.

“I grew up with the Pattons,” Daubach, 51, said. “There’s not a more respected family where we’re from than that. So, along with Drew’s baseball skills, I knew we’d be getting a great person. That always helps no matter what business you’re in.”

Millas’ promotion also created a moment of dejavu for Daubach and his early professional days.

“Being from Belleville, it kind of reminds me a lot of when I was coming up,” he said. “Drew’s dad drove to Toledo to see his first game and in 1996 my parents drove up to Toledo for me. It brings back great memories for me. I hope Drew can continue on that path and make his way to the big leagues.”

Avoiding injuries key for Millas

Daubach, who has been with the Nationals’ organization 13 years, said one key to Millas’ success moving forward is staying healthy.

Millas has missed time with injuries to his back, hip, wrist and elbow. Plus, he lost his first full season in professional baseball to COVID-19.

“He was at major league spring training last year, which was a nice reward for all the hard work he’s put in, but he pulled an oblique in camp (in 2022) and didn’t get many chances to play with the major league team,” said Daubach. “He then had an up-and-down season with injuries but worked hard all offseason. ...

“Drew just needs to have a healthy season. It’s been a while since he’s been able to get a full season of health. He’s another one of those guys that missed a whole year because of the COVID season (2020). He just needs to get off to a great start, stay healthy and stay on the field.”

Millas agreed, nothing daily preparation is crucial to remaining healthy. And, now that he is healthy, Millas certainly does not take it for granted.

“That’s huge. A lot of it goes into my daily work before the game,” Millas said. “The trainers at every level have very helpful and understanding for how to prepare me and be 100% or close to it when I step on field. Learning my body and routine and preparing my body before each game is big. Being healthy, I couldn’t value it enough. I was hurt most of last year and dealing with so many minor injuries.

“Some of it is luck and being in the right place right time. But you also can avoid a lot of the self-inflicted injuries in weight room prior to game and learning that prior to the games has been huge this year.”

Making the jump from Triple-A

Daubach also offered perspective and insight into the obstacles of that final jump from Triple-A to the majors, specifically the blended combination of veteran players trying to return to the big club and younger players hoping to reach that level for the first time.

“Triple-A can be toughest level because of that ... there’s a good mix here. I spent a lot of time at the Triple-A level as a player and I’ve gone through both sides of being a younger player trying to make it and an older player trying to get back,” Daubach said. “All you can do is control what you can control, go out with a clear mind and play to the best of your abilities. If you play to the best of your abilities, you’ll probably get a chance to play at the next level.”

Millas noted some key differences between Double-A and Triple-A, specifically with the pitching. Moreover, Millas said Triple-A pitchers are more adept at attacking a batter’s weakness.

“I don’t think the stuff necessarily is much better in Triple-A so far,” Millas said. “More of it is guys have a knowledge of game and pitch way more so to your weaknesses as opposed to pitching to their strengths. Kind of identifying that early on has been very helpful to me. A lot of it is learning that side of the game on how pitchers come at you. In Double-A, pitchers will just come at you with their heater and a good slider.

“Here, if your weaknesses are hitting a changeup and a high fastball they’ll exploit that whether it’s their strength or not.”

Millas now hopes to make the final jump from Triple-A to the major leagues. Along with health, Millas outlined other keys to making the MLB circuit.

“Just being able to handle that two-strike approach and be confident in myself and put ball in play and let good things happen,” he said. “That can go a long way. I get more contact from the left side and I have a little more swing and miss on the right side that I know I can cut down. On the catching side, I honestly truly believe I’m ready. Basically, being consistent at the plate, being productive and allowing the team a better chance to win when I’m hitting. Those are big keys.”

Daubach cherishes time with Nationals

Daubach is now in his 13th year in the Nationals’ organization. He started in the fall of 2010 and ultimately managed future MLB stars Bryce Harper (two-time NL MVP), Robbie Rey (CY Young winner) and Michael Taylor (Gold Glover), among others.

“There’s a a lot turnover in hitting departments in Major League Baseball and to be here 13 years straight ... I’m very thankful for the Washington Nationals,” he said.

The Nationals won the World Series in 2019, but have struggled since with records of 26-34 in 2020 (COVID year), 65-97 in 2021 and 55-107 in 2022. Washington currently is 25-35 this season. However, Daubach sees a light at the end of the tunnel.

“Between trades and free agents we’ve lost, we’re rebuilding the system like we did 12 years ago. I think we’re going to be heard from in the short term,” he said.

Looking ahead, while Daubach certainly has MLB coaching/managing aspirations, he’s also quite content where he’s at.

“Like I preach to the players .... I’m with Rochester right now. Anybody who’s coached at higher levels in the minors probably isn’t telling the truth if they say they don’t want to coach or manage in the major leagues. At the same time, I like the role I have. I like being in Triple-A,” he said.

“I like being in a position to help these guys get over the hump and to the major leagues. There’s nothing better than seeing the reaction of a kid getting called up to the major leagues for the first time. It’s very rewarding to see that at this level.”

Professional playing career

The New York Mets selected Daubach out of Belleville West in the 17th round of the 1990 amateur draft. He spent seven years in the Mets’ minor league system before being granted free agency. Then, in 1997, he signed with the Florida Marlins organization and made his major league debut in 1998.

“You always remember the first time you finally get called up — I’ll always remember that,” said Daubach, a first baseman/outfielder. “My first major league hit was off Curt Schilling and then I played with him six years later (in Boston). My first homer I’ll always remember. It was a game-winner in the top of ninth against the Blue Jays against Graham Lloyd. To get first my first home run off of him — lefty on lefty — and to help us win the game was really cool.”

Daubach was with the Red Sox from 1999-2002, the Chicago White Sox in 2003, the Red Sox again in 2004 and the New York Mets in 2005.

It was during his first tour with Boston that Daubach had his best years.

In 1999, Daubach slugged 21 homers and drove in 73 runs while batting .294. The following season, Daubach drilled 21 homers and drove in 76 while hitting .248 before blasting 22 round trippers and driving in 71 with a .263 batting average in 2001. In 2002, the lefty hit 20 homers and posted 78 RBI while batting .266.

“I played at Fenway most of my time in the major leagues with the Red Sox and had five or six walk-off homers my first two years. To hear that place going crazy ... it’s a lot like St. Louis, but maybe even a little more raucous,” he said.

All told, during his five seasons in Boston, Daubach — who earned the reputation as a “Dirt Dog” for his style of play with the Red Sox — belted 86 home runs and drove in 303 runs while hitting .265. He also slugged 125 doubles and helped the Red Sox reach the American League Championship Series in 1999 where they lost to the New York Yankees 4 games to 1.

However, in the American League Division Series round against Cleveland, Daubach’s sensational performance in the decisive fifth game helped lift the Red Sox into the ALCS. Daubach went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored in a 12-8 victory as Boston won the series 3-2.

“To play in the playoffs and have my family there ... Red Sox-Yankees in the ALCS was really cool,” said Daubach, who earned a ring with the 2004 Red Sox, who swept his hometown Cardinals in the World Series. “My one year with the White Sox, getting to play in Chicago as well and be a part of the White Sox-Cubs rivalry was a great experience.

“And being a part of the 2004 team even though I was not on the playoff roster ... being able to win for the city of Boston and the whole New England region; it had been 86 years since the Red Sox had won a World Series and people were expecting a collapse at any time. To overcome that hurdle was awesome to see and be a part of that, too.”

Daubach also played for the St. Louis Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds, in 2006.

He batted .259 with 93 home runs and 333 RBI in 661 games during his eight-season major league career.

Following his professional career, Daubach took a couple years off, which included appearing on Fox Sports Net in St. Louis when he covered the 2006 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers.

Daubach’s coaching career officially began June 30, 2008, when he was named the hitting coach for the Nashua Pride of the Atlantic League, coaching his first game July 1. He joined the Nationals organization two years later as manager of the Hagerstown Suns, a single-A affiliate.

Daubach has since climbed the Nationals’ minor league ranks by managing in high-A Potomac and double-A Harrisburg. Two seasons in the Mets and San Francisco Giants organizations led him back to his current job as hitting coach in Rochester.

“This is my eighth season as a hitting coach at Triple-A. I feel like you’re always learning,” said Daubach, whose wife, Kim Zimmermann Daubach, also is a 1990 Belleville West graduate. “There are a lot of new tools out there, like different drill packages or learning analytics. It’s strange how much it’s changed in last eight years. At the end of day, it’s still about being ready to hit. Hitting is so mental.”