For most CCBL players, they can only dream of what spring training looks like in the Majors — imagining the preparation, the warm weather and the anticipation of it all. For Cashel Dugger, he’s no stranger to this reality. In fact, he lived it much earlier than most — in seventh grade.

Growing up so connected to a Major League team and its clubhouse, some of Dugger’s best memories revolved around baseball.

“When I was in seventh grade, I basically left school for three months and went to spring training with my dad for the whole time,” Dugger said. “I lived with my dad out there, we went to the field every day, and basically sent my teachers my homework online. That was the highlight of growing up. That was a lot of fun.”

From seventh grade to now, baseball doesn’t just stop at the field for Dugger.

“Baseball is a huge part of my dad and I’s relationship even now,” Dugger said. “Bonding through baseball, talking baseball, there’s nothing I love to do more than talk about baseball with him.”

Baseball’s reach extends to the entirety of the Dugger family.

Keith Dugger, the father of the UCLA catcher, has been an integral part of the Colorado Rockies for almost 30 years. For almost 18 of those years, Dugger has served as the senior medical director and head athletic trainer for the professional baseball team.

From serving on the Executive Board of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society to being named the National League athletic trainer for the 2021 All-Star Game in Denver, Dugger has become a familiar face for the Rockies organization to say the least.

That’s reflected in the relationships he has formed with some of the most recognizable faces in baseball, two of which were his sons’ favorite players growing up — Todd Helton and Nolan Arenado.

“When I was really young, Todd Helton was my favorite,” Dugger said. “Him and my dad are pretty close, he was always super nice to me. We are still very close with their family.”

The same can be said about Arenado.

“As I got older, Nolan Arenado, he was always my favorite player,” Dugger said. “He would come over to our house for dinner, and he would spend some time and hang out with us. He was definitely my favorite.”

Dugger valued the players in ways beyond just simply their performance on the field.

“It’s cool to be around them, learn from them and talk with them,” Dugger said.

Having these experiences has only given Dugger more insight into what it takes to make it in the Majors.

“Just being surrounded by big league players, the best players in the world, I was able to see their work ethic,” Dugger said. “See what it takes. See their preparation.”

Little did he know at the time just how much that would impact his own life.

“That inspired me to want to live out my career and dreams and aspirations of becoming a professional player,” Dugger said. “Seeing the life they live, seeing the game be played at such a high level, it’s just always been my dream. I want to get there.”

When asked if there was one crucial thing that his dad taught him, Dugger emphasized something repetitively.

“Work ethic I would say, he is a super strong worker, and he works very hard in his job,” Dugger said. “I think that taught me a lot and led me on the path that I was on.”

Bringing his talents to UCLA, Dugger is currently taking the next steps in his baseball career.

“I love it there,” Dugger said. “It was my dream school growing up. I have formed a lot of great friendships and great relationships with coaches and my teammates and just people around the school. It’s been one of the greatest blessings of my life for sure being able to be there.”

Being part of UCLA’s first appearance in the College World Series in 12 years, Dugger discussed the experience.

“The run we had this year when we made it to the College World Series, that was an incredible experience and something that I will never forget,” Dugger said.

He also praised his family’s support throughout it all.

“They just feed me constant support and motivation, and I just know that they are always supportive of me,” Dugger said. “It doesn’t matter if I go 0-for-4 or 4-for-4, they are still going to support me and love me no matter what.”

To say that baseball was only important to Dugger and his father would be inaccurate.

“We are a baseball family for sure,” Dugger said. “I think my mom watches more baseball than anybody, honestly. My grandpa was a high school baseball coach. Baseball has always been huge in our family.”

That support spans back to when he was at Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. With three teams for high school baseball — the c team, junior varsity and varsity, Dugger didn’t start at the top right off the bat.

“My freshman year of high school was COVID year, but I made the c team,” Dugger said. “My sophomore year I made a little bit of a jump and I made varsity, didn’t play. We lost in the state championship that year. Junior year, played, senior year, played, and then we won the state championship my senior year.”

When asked what advice he would give to his younger self, Dugger reflected on what he wished he would have done less.

“Don’t care what other people think of you,” Dugger said. “You are on your own journey. I was a very late bloomer in high school, so I wasn’t as big and strong as other people. I would always compare myself to others. Definitely just have fun with the game and enjoy the ride for sure.”

His advice is all the more fitting given his recent accomplishment — being named to the CCBL All-Star team.

But for Dugger, there’s more that needs to be done.

“Still working everyday to get to the big leagues and be a successful big leaguer, that’s the dream,” Dugger said. “It’s cool to see my journey as a baseball player and the steps I’ve made so far, but I still have a lot of work to do.”