Steven Baron had a question about his hit in the eighth inning of the Mariners’ 5-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox today.
“Does this count as a big-league hit?” asked the 19-year-old catcher who experienced the thrill of his baseball life. In the Mariners’ big-league spring training camp to learn the ways of the basebal world, Baron played in his first game today, catching the final three innings and getting one at-bat
At this time last year, Baron was impressing scouts as he played for Ferguson High School in Miami. The Mariners selected him with the 33rd overall pick in the June draft, played him at Class A Pulaski last summer and brought him to their big-league camp in February.
Baron’s boyish looks make him stand out among the veteran players in this camp, but when he straps on the equipment and pulls the mask over that fresh face, he’s all catcher. Like the scouting reports said when he was drafted, Baron has shown in camp that he’s solid behind the plate.
And at the plate today, he put a great swing on a fastball from the White Sox’ Matt Long, lining a pitch into left field for a single in the eighth inning.
“I was a little nervous, but I got comfortable after the first inning. I felt good,” Baron said. “I feel so confident when I’m behind the plate.”
Mariners bench coach Ty VanBurkleo did have to remind him to check the dugout in the ninth inning when the White Sox had a runner on third and one out. Last thing the Mariners needed was for the White Sox to surprise them with a squeeze bunt.
Otherwise, the day was another dream come true for Baron, as this entire camp has been. He’s just beginning to learn the nuances of the pro game, but already believes he’s a more mature player from the experience here.
“Being more mature when I make a mistake,” he said. “Big leaguers make mistakes and they shake it off and go about it as if nothing happened. My biggest problem is that I make a mistake, it gets in my head and I’ll come into the dugout and start thinking about it. But to see them, they’re having fun still. It helps to see them.”
Baron wasn’t the only 19-year-old to show something. Second baseman Nick Franklin, taken with the 27th overall pick in the first round, also singled and stole two bases. He replaced Chone Figgins at second base in the sixth inning.
Other tidbits from a split-squad day with the Mariners:
—Ryan Rowland-Smith pitched the first two innings against the White Sox and gave up three hits and a run on Paul Konerko’s second-inning solo home run. Rowland-Smith threw all his pitches, including the cut fastball that he hopes to show this season, but worked primarily on his fastball command. The one to Konerko was up.
—Ryan Feierabend had another nice outing in his comeback from Tommy John elbow surgery, pitching two perfect innings with one strikeout. “Running out from the bullpen I couldn’t calm down,” he said. “When I got to the dugout, my hands were shaking. The second inning, I calmed down.”
—Mike Sweeney continued his great start, going 2-for-3 to give him an .800 average.
—For the second time, Chone Figgins showed his nice range, diving behind the bag at second base to field a hard smash up the middle by Chicago’s Juan Pierre, then making a strong throw to first for the out.
—In Maryvale, where the Brewers beat the Mariners 6-2, Jose Lopez had a rough game at third base. He made one fielding error and had another ball get past him for a double. “We talked to Lopey a little bit about positioning and angles to the ball. Everything’s been rosy so far but you’d like to see that so we can make some adjustments with it.”
—Second baseman Dustin Ackley also muffed a double-play opportunity when he dropped a throw from Lopez on what could have been a 5-4-3 double play.
—Catcher Adam Moore went 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI and is batting .667.
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