Let’s start our trip around the farm in Salem where Katrina Waugh talks with the newest Salem outfielder, Brian Bogusevic.
What to expect to see of him:
One of the main goals of Bogusevic’s trip to Salem is to get back into everyday playing condition.
He said he will likely play a system of two games on, one game off, beginning with playing five-inning pairs, then seven and then nine.
“It’s not going to come right away, but it hopefully will come,” he said in a phone interview from Springdale, Ark., where the Hooks were playing.
BB on the difference between wooden & metal bats:
Bogusevic said even fielding balls hit to the outfield off a wooden bat will be different than those he chased down in college.
“It’ll be different reads off the bat, and the speed of the game,” Bogusevic said. He admitted to a little bit of nervousness, “but I’m mostly excited.
“At least it’ll be a lot of fun.”
On the field, the Avs split a double header last night. In Game one, Douglas Arguelo pitched all 6 innings in the shortened game. He took the loss with a the only run allowed coming on a wild pitch from Arguelo in the second. He also walked two batters that inning.
In game two, the Avs bats came alive and they won 6-1. Mark Ori, Jordan Parraz and Jimmy Van Ostrand all had multiple hit games and all are now batting over .300 for the season. Kevin Carkeek also had a multi hit game and raised his average to .189. Carkeek is currently riding a 4 game hitting streak.
Brad James was pulled out of the Corpus Christi game after a visit from the trainer in the 3rd inning of the Hooks 9-2 loss. In the 3rd inning, James gave up two singles, two walks and hit a batter without getting anyone out. Prior to that, he had not allowed a hit and had walked a batter who was erased on a double play. Val Majewski had a home run for the Hooks. He has hit in 9 of his last 10.
Tri Cities lost 5-2 and have now dropped 8 of their last 10 games. The local paper has a feature on T. J. Steele and Joe Gaston who were teammates and road roommates at U of Arizona. They are now teammates and apartment mates at Tri Cities.
“I was pretty happy,” Steele said. “It’s always good to have someone on a team that you trust and you’ve grown up playing and used to playing with them.”
Bobby Heck, the Astros’ director of amateur scouting, said Steele has all five tools — hitting for average, hitting for power, running, throwing and fielding — to be an outstanding player, and that his athleticism stands out. Gaston, he said, was a clutch player with very good makeup.
J. B. Shuck is also getting some local love from his home town paper.
For the first month of his professional career, Shuck has been left to his own devices. The coaching staff doesn’t tinker with new players until they get an idea of what they have.
“They have a 30-day rule in place,” Shuck said. “The coaches don’t mess with us much at all. They want to get an idea why we were drafted.
“The coaches have told me they are pleased with my progress so far.”
Lexington was shut out 2-0 in Charlston last night. Round Rock was rained out and Greeneville had the night off.