HOUSTON -- It was quite a memorable start to April for White Sox catcher Seby Zavala.
He was behind the plate Saturday for the 6-4 loss to the Astros and launched a long two-run home run over the Crawford Boxes in left field at Minute Maid Park. But the onetime San Diego State University backstop had the chance for a doubleheader, as he watched his alma mater upend Florida Atlantic University on a last-second shot in the NCAA men's basketball Final Four played at NRG Stadium.
Due to the length of Saturday’s baseball game, Zavala and his wife, Elizabeth, weren’t able to get to the college basketball game until there were just a few minutes remaining in the first half. But the Zavalas were in place when Lamont Butler nailed the 17-foot jumper as time expired to send the Aztecs to the title game against UConn.
In fact, Zavala had a perfect view of the game-winning shot.
“First off, I was wondering why we weren’t calling a timeout because there were a bunch of timeouts going on,” Zavala said. “They put the ball in the right guy’s hands and he made that sweet basket at the end. It was a lot of fun. I was really happy I was able to make it.”
David Hensley, who started at designated hitter for the Astros on Sunday and also played for San Diego State, was at the game Saturday night and Zavala had a chance to talk with him. Zavala played in 2012, '14 and '15 for SDSU, playing under Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn during those first two campaigns.
Gwynn took a leave of absence from his coaching job in April 2014 and passed away in June of that same year of salivary gland cancer. Zavala’s devotion to Gwynn doesn't just come via words, as he features a tattoo with the No. 19 on his left biceps. That No. 19 represents the jersey worn by the beloved Gwynn, who had 3,141 hits over a 20-year career with the Padres.
“When I think of San Diego State, the first thing I think of is Tony Gwynn,” Zavala said. “All the memories I’ve had going to school with my friends, Tony Gwynn and all the coaches and teammates that I had there. It brings a lot of good memories back.”
Zavala’s wife also was an athlete at SDSU. The couple won’t be able to attend Monday night’s championship game in Houston, with the White Sox playing their home opener against the Giants that day (2:10 p.m. CT) at Guaranteed Rate Field. It will be Zavala’s first home opener, following the first Opening Day roster made by the 29-year-old.
He’s come a long way since a 1-for-12 start with nine strikeouts during a callup in 2019.
“To me it was good to struggle, because then I was like, ‘What do I need to get better at in the offseason?’” Zavala said. “They threw me a ton of fastballs and I couldn’t really touch it. So I just went into the offseason knowing if I could hit a fastball, I could hit any pitch.
“As long as I don’t get off the fastball, I’ll be good. If I’m ready for the fastball, I’m ready for anything.”