May 19--Dave Berg is aware that the likes of Chad Bradford and Darren O'Day have carved a niche that he hopes to fully achieve.
Berg hopes his professional career reaches a point where he can make his own mark, as he did when he transformed from an ineffective overhand pitcher to a sidearm specialist who holds the NCAA record for career saves.
"I want to get there so someone can say, 'I want to be David Berg,' " the recently promoted Class-A Tennessee reliever said in spring training. "Hopefully I can be one of those guys sometime soon. But for now, I'm just enjoying the journey. It's an exciting time to be a Chicago Cub."
And it's an exciting time for Berg, 23, who was recruited -- albeit as a preferred walk-on player at UCLA -- only after he graduated from Bishop Amat High School in Southern California.
Berg, a sixth round pick in the 2015 amateur draft, was promoted to the Smokies after posting a 1.42 ERA in nine appearances with four saves in four chances. He has a 2.25 ERA in three appearances with Tennessee.
In an era with increasing emphasis on power arms, Berg provides a timely change of pace with his sidearm delivery and velocity at a pedestrian speed.
"This whole journey has been based on what my own feel, what I've done and I've just used my eyes and see what hitters have done to me, and then adjust and see how it goes," Berg said. "It's gone very well. I don't want to overanalyze things and get in my own way. For now, I'll keep going with what I'm doing. If I have a roadblock. I'll try other avenues."
Berg said he started throwing sidearm during his junior season at Bishop Amat but didn't catch the eyes of the UCLA staff until his senior season in the California Interscholastic Federation playoffs.
"I visited the campus, they offered me a walk-on spot on June 20, and I was at orientation a week later," Berg recalled. "It was about as fast of a recruiting process as you could imagine. I wanted to go to UCLA for an education and had been put on their waiting list for academics."
Berg needs only two classes to complete his requirements for a bachelor's degree in political science.
"Whenever it does happen, it will be a great accomplishment," Berg said. "All of a sudden, to be able to play baseball, I got a great opportunity."
Tennessee left fielder Mark Zagunis went 4-for-4 with a double Wednesday night as Tennessee lost to Birmingham 5-0. Zagunis is batting .283 after collecting eight hits in his past 14 at-bats.
