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Kyle Schwarber's Snapchat Buddy Isn't Shocked By College Teammate's Success

By Justin Breen | October 19, 2015 5:38am
 Chris Sujka (4, jumping) isn't surprised Kyle Schwarber (l. and catcher in IU photo) is playing well for the Cubs.
Chris Sujka (4, jumping) isn't surprised Kyle Schwarber (l. and catcher in IU photo) is playing well for the Cubs.
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Getty Images (left); Chris Sujka

CHICAGO — Chris Sujka isn't surprised one of his best friends and former teammate at Indiana University, Kyle Schwarber, is hitting home runs on top of the Wrigley Field video boards.

Sujka, a former Mount Carmel star who now works in the West Loop, joined Schwarber at IU in 2012 and had a front-row seat to the now-Cubs rookie's power for three seasons in Bloomington.

"When we were at school, it was always a competition during batting practice of who could hit the most and the farthest home runs," Sujka said.

"For a little guy like me, I had some pretty good power, but nothing like his. If I ever beat him in a home run derby, mine were barely-get-me-over wall-scrapers, while his were majestic long balls."

Sujka said Schwarber is the same friendly guy with the Cubs that he was at Indiana. He goes to games when he can, courtesy of tickets from Schwarber, and they occasionally go out to dinner. He said their main method of communication is Snapchat.

"I can tell all of the guys love him on his team and he is a spark of energy and optimism in their dugout," Sujka said. "There isn’t a bad thing to say about the guy and that’s how he was at IU.

Justin Breen says Schwarber is known for being a good guy:

"Watching him be himself and see how happy he is while he is doing it, is what brings me joy when I watch him succeed," Sujka added. "I also enjoy the fact that I can say ‘Hey, I know him.’ Friends and co-workers come up to me often and say, ‘Did you see what your boy did last night?’. Of course I did, won’t miss another game the rest of the year."

Schwarber and Sujka helped lead IU to the 2013 College World Series. Sujka played four seasons for the Hoosiers, while Schwarber finished three campaigns before being selected by the Cubs fourth overall in the 2014 draft.

Schwarber's bomb in Game 4 of the National League Division Series that landed — and remains — on the Cubs' video board in right field is the same sort of ball-mashing he displayed at Indiana, Sujka said. The biggest big fly from Schwarber during a game came at Louisville on May 13, 2014, Sujka said, when Schwarber launched a ball over the 40-foot-high batter's eye in center field.

Kyle Schwarber's home run for Indiana at Louisville is at the 3:14 mark.

"Louisville had a proud tradition of baseball and many fans that have been attending games for years, and they all agreed it was the farthest ball they’ve seen hit," Sujka said. "I believe it was 400 feet to center field [it's 405 feet], with a 10-foot gap to the batter’s eye. ... Had to be as close a ball I’ve ever seen to 500 feet. People and his teammates didn’t know whether to cheer or to hold our breath because we couldn’t believe what he had just done."

Sujka is a lifelong White Sox fan, but he said he can't help but root for the Cubs because of Schwarber.

"Watching Kyle play is pretty amazing and fun to see," he said. "I’ve always been a White Sox fan, but I’m not sure if anyone could be mad at me for being happy with their success as well as Kyle’s."

The Cubs trail the Mets 2-0 in the best-of-seven NLCS. Game 3 is Tuesday at Wrigley Field.

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