Blue Jays return to Pulaski with experience

The Blue Jays have just put the finishing touches on an impressive 11-3 season-opening victory against the visiting Bristol White Sox. There's joking, laughter and plenty of smiles as the young players - most all first- or second-year professionals - shower, change into street clothes and scarf down a late dinner while catching some Major League action on ESPN.

In a quiet adjoining room, Nick Thomas lies alone on a training table. While staring at the ceiling, he rests his right leg on a plastic bag filled with ice. The 21-year-old injured his groin several weeks ago in spring training. He tweaked it again Friday in the Blue Jays' first workout at Calfee Park. He did not play Monday.

"I should be good to go hopefully, if not tomorrow, then the next day," Thomas says as he shifts the melting ice.

This is Thomas' second stint in Pulaski. The native of Elk Grove, Calif., hit .290 with 39 RBI, 14 doubles and a team-high seven home runs last summer. Players posting those kinds of numbers typically don't find themselves repeating rookie league ball.

"I was upset the first day, but after it kind of left me I said, 'Hey, I'll just go play,'" Thomas said. "You can't really do anything about it so I'll just go play and do my best.

"It's frustrating just because I thought I did have a good season last year, but obviously there's some things I need to work on to move up. There's a lot of older guys ahead of me, so I'll get my chance, hopefully."

It's a sentiment echoed by 13 other Blue Jays who return to Pulaski for a second straight summer. Sure, the town's quaint, the fans are friendly and the ballpark and facilities are top-notch. But make no mistake - for athletes with big league dreams, the Appalachian League is not high on their list of preferred addresses.

"It's not fun at all to repeat a league even though the people of Pulaski have been great with our team," 22-year-old infielder Jose Salas said.

In minor league baseball "you're not trying to be on the same team even though you have the opportunity to keep developing and work on things that you probably haven't got done yet," he said. "But you just keep going and as long as you can eat and come home you have something to play for."

That and the Pulaski fans whose summer is annually brightened by the youngsters' desire, determination and heart on the diamond. Most of these players will never slip on a big league uniform. But the game is played the way it was intended - with passion. This year's edition of Blue Jays is loaded with experience. With 14 returning players, Pulaski will field a veteran squad by Appy League standards.

"It's pretty much a plus having a lot of returning guys back," Thomas said. "Everyone knows what to expect now."

Thomas is joined by a returning slugging class that includes outfielders Luke Hetherington (.266, 24 RBI a year ago) and Yuber A. Rodriguez (.281). With a lineup featuring five returning players, Pulaski's veteran hitters were patient and willing to work deep into counts Monday night.

"A lot of these guys played here last year, so that helped," first-year Blue Jays' manager Gary Cathcart said.

"They know what our hitting program is, they know what our philosophy is, and I knew they were going to put good at-bats together."

Cathcart, a former player in the New York Yankees organization in the 1980s, was the hitting coach for the Class A Dunedin Blue Jays last year. Less than a week into his stay in Pulaski, he has been impressed with his new home ballpark. "You can tell the place has got a lot of charm," he said. "It's a nice place to play ... it's got a little bit of a homeliness to it down here in the bottom of the valley and the facility's nice and you can't ask for much more in rookie ball."

Antonio Caceres is the team's new pitching coach. Justin Mashore is back as hitting coach. Starters Yesson Berroa (6-2, 3.85 ERA), Brian Grant (2-5, 4.80), Juan Perez (4-6, 4.48) and Russell

Savickas (3-3, 4.28) return from last year. The unique situation gives the Blue Jays a veteran starting rotation. Lefty Chi-Hung Cheng, a highly regarded 19-year-old prospect from Taiwan, is the front-runner to win the remaining starting spot.

The bullpen is filled mostly with young, unproven talent picked in the amateur draft early this month. The highest draft pick on the team is right hander Scott Roy, who was selected in the 21st round. The 22-year-old was 2-6 with a 3.17 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 82 1/3 innings this year at the University of Hartford. Lefty Daryl Harang, selected in the 23rd round, is the younger brother of Cincinnati Reds' starter Aaron Harang. Their older Harang may be recalled by Pulaski fans who followed the old Pulaski Rangers. He played here.

Daryl Harang went 6-6 with a 4.34 ERA at San Diego State University this spring.

Cathcart looks forward to seeing players grow and mature throughout the season.

"Wins and losses are great at this level but the most important thing is they need to take a look at themselves now, take a look at themselves at the end of the season and if they see a better player then they've done a good job at this level," he said. "They know they're far from the finished product so they need to see improvement every day. We got a short season here so if they're a better player all-round when they leave here in September, no matter what the wins and losses are, then we've had a successful year."

As for the players, the season is about developing, improving and most importantly moving.

Said outfielder Junior Chourio through teammate/interpreter Gobby Gerlits: "There's a lot of drive for the guys who were here last year to get out of here and move on and feel better. So they're striving in their heart to play their best ... so everybody's ready to roll."

Click here for today's headlines.
Click here for the past seven day's headlines.

Let any elected or appointed official know what you think and how you feel by CLICKING HERE.