DELAND, Fla. - It was a long road back to being a ballplayer for Stetson baseball pitcher Zemp Schwab.

Schwab missed most of senior season in high school after Tommy John surgery

Appeared in two games for Stetson last season

Grandfather Jack Billingham played Major League Baseball for 13 years

“It felt like I wasn’t really a baseball player for that year that I was out," he said. "And then, when I got back out on that mound, it kind of hit me.”

Schwab suffered a torn UCL in his throwing arm during his senior year of high school at New Smyrna Beach, and missed most of the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He appeared in just two games in his freshman year as a reliever for Stetson.

“He’s a big, strong physical guy," Trimper said. "[He] comes from great genes in his family. And I think it’s something that he’s maturing each and every day that we’re out here.”

Good genes. Like from his grandfather, Jack Billingham.

“I can go anywhere in Florida. But in Cincinnati, someone will come up and say, 'can I have your autograph Jack?'” Billingham said.

Who wouldn't want his autograph? Two World Series wins with the Cincinnati Reds and their famous "Big Red Machine" squads, 13 years in the big leagues altogether. He's also a Reds Hall of Famer.



“It’s definitely incredible going over to his house and seeing the World Series trophies," Schwab said. "I’ve been to his house thousands of times, and I’ve seen the trophies thousands of times, and man, it’s still special.”

Now, he sits in section 105 at Melching Field, watching his own grandson (sporting his No. 43) pitch after a year and a half of intense rehab.

“It’s fun to watch Zemp," Billingham said. "It’s hard to watch Zemp. I’d rather be out there sometimes than him be out there, because I get nervous.”

But despite his nerves, he lets his grandson do his own thing.

“He understands, he’s not like a helicopter," Schwab said. "He’s not like, 'oh your coach told you this, oh I played in the big leagues for 11 years and that’s wrong.' He just let’s them do their job, and that’s great.”

Billingham said the door is always open, but he wants Schwab to develop into his own player.



“We can relate. I can relate to what he’s asking me. And I can tell him things," he said. "But I learned a long time ago, just because I played in the big leagues, doesn’t mean I know everything about pitching.”

Their passion is shared, though. And while it's still early in his career, Schwab has not ruled out a run at the majors one day. And neither has the former Winter Park star Billingham.

“Would it be cool to turn on the TV and see my grandson? Yes," Billingham said. "It would be very cool. But the chances of that are very, very, very slim. But they’re not impossible right now. There’s still a possibility.”

And if he doesn't? He knows he'll still have "Pops" by his side.

“He’s not going to be disappointed. He’s going to be fine. It’s not a big deal," Schwab said. "I just think it’s really special how much he supports me,and my entire family how they support me.”