Sweet aroma of major league success

Daniel Sweet

Daniel Sweet drafted by Cincinnati Reds

Special to The Mississippi Link

A lot of the news has been good news lately for recent high school graduate Daniel Sweet. Years of hard work on the baseball field have paid off. The Cincinnati Reds selected Sweet in the 23rd round of the Major League Baseball draft.
“I was sitting with my family in Florida watching the draft. When they called my name, I wanted to first make sure there wasn’t a mistake,” Sweet said. “It was a dream come true. We were all so happy. I have wanted to play professional baseball all my life.”
Sweet’s investment and sacrifice yields big dividends. The five-year varsity letterman first took the outfield for St. Andrew’s Episcopal School’s baseball team and batted at the top of the order as a switch hitter in the eighth grade. As a ninth- grader, Sweet led the Saints offensively, batting .483 during the regular season and earning the Best Offensive Player Award.

Daniel Sweet PHOTO BY KIMBERLY N. SWEET

Taking his talents to the Northwest Rankin Cougars, Sweet finished his senior season with All-District, All-Star and All-Metro honors.  He earned a .377 batting average and as the team’s leadoff hitter had a .606 on base percentage. Sweet also led the team in steals, walks, runs scored and times hit by pitch. Sweet also graduated with academic honors and received the MHSAA Scholar Athlete Award.
Sweet has played baseball since he was four; first at the YMCA and Grove Park and later with traveling teams that played throughout Mississippi, Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee and Florida. Sweet credits his family, coaches and mentors with his accomplishments.
Former Jackson State University Athletic Director and Baseball Coach Robert Braddy isn’t surprised Sweet was chosen and said not all his gifts are athletic.
“I’ve known Daniel since he was a small kid. As good a ball player as he is, he’s a humble kid. He will do well as a baseball player and even better as a productive citizen.”
Sweet signed to play Division 1 baseball in the Horizon League with Youngstown State in Ohio, but is spending his summer playing baseball in the Florida Collegiate Summer League.
He has not yet decided if he will go to college or sign with the Reds. In the meantime, he is honing his skills against college players and other draft picks.

Sweet interacting with other All-Star players. PHOTO BY BOB SMITH

“I am grateful to God for all the gifts He has given me and I plan to keep working hard until I play in the MLB,” Sweet said.  “I appreciate all the support and sacrifices my family made to help me get to this point and I can’t wait to see it all work out.”
Daniel Sweet is the son of Attorney Dennis Sweet and Kimberly Sweet.

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