Amiel Sawdaye, a member of the Pikesville High School class of 1995, was honored by his alma mater last week at a ceremony that highlighted the Jewish Baltimorean’s accomplishments as a Major League Baseball executive, which includes being a part of three World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox.

That isn’t to say, however, that the accomplished Sawdaye has always been the buttoned-up professional he is now. He said that, just like the hundred or so students in the crowd, he was once a normal teenager.

“I was in French class with [Pikesville teacher Ethan Goodman], but that was because I got kicked out of Spanish,” he laughed.

Goodman had declined to mention that while introducing his former classmate.

While Sawdaye was quick to make jokes about his time as a Panther, his list of accomplishments and the path he took to attain them is remarkable.

He started as a student at the University of Maryland Smith School of Business before taking a job with General Electric.

Sawdaye, who actually played lacrosse in the spring at Pikesville, broke into the tight-knit, old-school world of professional baseball by reaching out to every single team.

“I went into the real world, and I worked in an office,” he said. “I looked around and I realized it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I made phone calls to 30 teams, and I was fortunate enough to have the Boston Red Sox answer my call and give me an internship. That was all luck.”

Sawdaye may have needed a bit of luck to get his foot in the door, but he earned his reputation across the league through hard work and good decisions.

Between his time at the Red Sox and his current employer, the Arizona Diamondbacks, he helped draft future hall of famer Mookie Betts, 2022 all-star Andrew Benintendi and 2023 National League Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll.

In his 15 years with the Red Sox, in which he rose to become vice president of amateur and international scouting, he was part of three World Series-winning teams, although he emphasized he was just “along for the ride” as an intern for the iconic 2004 World Series run.

He said that the most enriching of his World Series trips was actually the only one he lost.

“I think the most recent one, in 2023, although we lost, was probably the most fulfilling because it felt like our handprints were on that whole team,” he said.

The 2023 season exemplifies Sawdaye’s understanding of talent evaluation and the game.

“We had a lot of young players that helped [get us there]. There’s so many iconic moments for us that year, and we drafted and traded for those players. That was really cool to see. Yeah, we lost, and it was a really tough loss, but it was very fulfilling,” he said.

Sawdaye, who helps continue a long tradition of Jews in Major League Baseball, had advice for students in attendance that he said he mostly applies to baseball prospects, but stands true for everyone.

“I say this to a lot of people and I truly mean it: most high school players, most high school kids, should go to college,” he said.

Some of the teachers in the Pikesville auditorium clapped when he said this. Sawdaye said that his time at Pikesville High was instrumental to his success, crediting his teachers and classmates.

However, he didn’t mention one interesting resume item, instead waiting for the school to say it: Sawdaye served as three-time president of the Kazoo Crew at the school.

He also explained to the students that even professional sports — known for its cutthroat, competitive nature — is a place where meaningful relationships and loyalty are rewarded.

He said that the team’s extension of all-star Ketel Marte, announced last week, exemplifies this.

“He came to us and said, ‘I want to retire a Diamondback,’” Sawdaye said. “So, he’s going to retire a Diamondback, and part of the reason we did that is because we believe in him, but [also to] help pay him back for everything he’s done. There’s so much more that goes into it than just information. There’s a lot of emotion also.”

This wasn’t the only time specific personnel decisions were discussed.

In fact, the crowd full of young sports fans was clearly clamoring to ask a specific question that eventually found its way into the microphone thanks to one student.

“Do you have any insights as to how you guys got Corbin Burnes instead of us?” he asked, in reference to the all-star pitcher who chose the Diamondbacks over the Orioles.

Sawdaye laughed, and then explained.

“It’s pretty easy. It was about money. We paid Corbin Burnes $210 million, and I don’t think the Orioles were paying him $210 million,” he said.

aguckes@midatlanticmedia.com