After a little waiting, Felnin Celesten pops in AquaSox debut

EVERETT — In just his second at bat with his new team, Felnin Celesten had an opportunity to make an impact.

The Everett AquaSox trailed 3-0 against the Spokane Indians at Funko Field on Tuesday with a runner on third, and the 19-year-old, switch-hitting shortstop was due up with two outs in the third inning. He had lined out on the first pitch of his first at-bat to kick off his High-A debut in the first inning.

“It’s the same game,” Celesten said, with AquaSox bench coach Hecmart Nieves translating for him. “I have always had a plan before my ABs. Nothing changes here. If I’m going to fail, I’m going to fail (while) trusting my plan.”

In the next at-bat, Spokane starter Griffin Herring blew the first pitch just inches in front of Celesten’s waist, causing him to stumble back out of the batter’s box. The Dominican Republic native swung hard enough on the next pitch that when he whiffed, he spun around and fell to the ground.

“Swing is like fine wine, number five! Give it time,” a fan shouted from the lower seats, loud enough for the entire park to hear.

Celesten stood back up and worked a full count, fouling off the fourth pitch right down the middle, before striking out swinging to end the inning and strand Curtis Washington Jr. at third.

Celesten — the Seattle Mariners’ ninth-ranked prospect and the No. 96 prospect in all of baseball — would have to give it a little more time, but he was familiar with the feeling of waiting after the events a couple of days prior.

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While with Low-A Modesto ahead of Sunday’s game against Inland Empire, Celesten noticed he was not in the lineup. He stood in the dugout until late in the game, when Modesto manager Luis Caballero told him to get ready. He was about to enter the game.

Celesten gathered his equipment and got ready to take the field, but without a word of explanation, Caballero never sent him in. Celesten waited even longer, with the game stretching into the eleventh inning before Modesto won 5-4 on a walk-off RBI double from Dervy Ventura.

Back in the clubhouse after the game, Caballero brought Celesten into his office.

“Do you know why I didn’t put you (in) there?” Caballero asked him.

“Hey, I was ready. Why didn’t you put me there?” Celesten replied.

“The reason why I didn’t put you there was because you’re going to play in Everett,” Caballero revealed.

Instantly, the confusion turned to joy.

“When you get the news that you’re being called up to the next level, it’s always special,” Celesten told The Herald on Tuesday. “It’s (like) stairs, so you’re going step-by-step, and that’s another step in my career.”

Celesten packed his things that night and flew up to Everett on Monday morning. In 93 games with Modesto this season, he slashed .285/.349/.384 with five home runs, 55 RBI and 20 stolen bases. He walked 37 times and struck out 96.

Given the rest of the day to adjust following his flight, Celesten was ready to get back in the lineup — for real, this time — on Tuesday.

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After his strikeout in the third inning, Celesten struck out looking in the sixth. He fouled off an 0-2 pitch down the middle but watched the other three in the at-bat go by. The next time he got to the plate, the AquaSox trailed 7-4 in the eighth inning.

Batting from the left side after swinging from the right in his first three at-bats, Celesten took Ball One outside. Committed to his plan and looking for a fastball, he got one from Spokane pitcher Cade Denton on the inside edge of the zone.

Just two at-bats after he was spun to the ground, Celesten put the ball into orbit. With his first hit in an AquaSox uniform, Celesten cleared the trees behind the furthest part of the right field wall and cut the deficit to 7-5.

Remarkably, it proved to be a rally-starter. Third baseman Luis Suisbel hit his 22nd home run of the season right after Celesten, and catcher Josh Caron tied it 7-7 following Brandon Eike’s strikeout with Everett’s third home run in four at-bats.

“Felnin was just really getting into that one,” Caron said. “He was ready to hit a fastball, and I think we all kind of saw that and fed off it.”

The Indians ultimately scored three runs in the top of the ninth to secure a 10-7 victory, but Celesten made a strong impression in his debut. Manager Zach Vincej is excited to see what else he will bring to the table.

“I mean, a lot of skills, man. He’s a special player,” Vincej said. “Obviously, with the bat from both sides, which is awesome, and he’s growing as a player. He’s getting his baseball IQ up. He’s growing and progressing, so I’m super happy about that and having him in this lineup. It’s pretty cool.”

In Celesten’s eyes — and the eyes of the 1,193 people in attendance on Tuesday — his biggest strength is his bat. However, he plans to bring a multi-faceted approach to his development in Everett, which is 17-32 in the second half and will need all hands on deck heading into the Northwest League Championship Series beginning Sept. 9.

“I want to improve on my defense, especially making that routine play,” Celesten said. “Keep improving and growing in that aspect of the game.”