September 2011 call-ups

Jays’ right fielder Adam Loewen

One of the benefits extended to major league baseball players is a September call-up. Essentially, on the first of September, teams may increase their rosters from 25 players to 40 players.

It gives the fans a chance to see players that have been plying the trade down on the farm. The Toronto Blue Jays have farm teams in Las Vegas (Pacific Coast League), New Hampshire (Eastern League), Dunedin (Florida State League), Lansing, Michigan (Midwest League), Auburn, New York, (New York-Penn League), and the Gulf Coast Blue Jays (Golf Coast League).

It gives the brass a chance to evaluate players at the Major League level. Quite often, players may excel in the minor leagues, then wilt under the big city lights. Pitchers cannot find their groove, batters have trouble with a curve ball, fielders watch ground balls trickle between their legs. Under the major league microscope, little things do affect the evaluation.

After Adam Loewen singled in his first Blue Jay game last week, the ball was tossed into the dugout as a souvenir. I am certain he will treasure that ball for the rest of his life. He has made a determined effort to play at the major league level, and he now savours the opportunity.

In late March, I wrote about Loewen. He was notable as being drafted higher than any Canadian ever, but as a pitcher by the Baltimore Orioles. After a couple of very mediocre seasons, he underwent surgery on his pitching arm, effectively ending his career. As a pitcher. But he was determined to become a major league baseball player, and decided to work his way back to the major leagues as an outfielder. He played baseball wherever, and whenever he could. Summer ball, winter ball, spring training—he was there with a bat on his shoulder, ready to take his cuts, learn a little more about the game. As a natural athlete, he knew he had the physical ability. He had the size to compliment his skills; he is six feet six inches in stature, and tips the scales in the 235 pound area.

He played 134 games this year in Las Vegas. His statistics as a batter are most impressive: .306 average, four triples, 17 home runs, 85 runs batted in. He also stole 11 bases, no small feat for a man of his stature. By the end of August, he had earned his stripes, deserving a call from the parent team.

He knew he had to play in the shadow of another Canadian, Brett Lawrie. Lawrie has captured the imagination of every Blue Jay fan with his play since he joined the Jays from Las Vegas. Not a problem for Loewen. One did not have to convince Adam Loewen that he could hit. But he knew he had to work hard to find the opportunities to do so, and to show the powers that be that he had a big league bat. In a recent radio interview, he said, “The chance of playing again in the major leagues seemed so far away. But I knew I had a lot left in the tank. And it has been an amazing trip. I am most appreciative to the Blue Jays for giving me the opportunity to show that I can be successful. Right now, I just want to help this team win.”

So far, so good. As of Monday, he had three hits in eight trips to the plate, one of them a home run. He is following in the footsteps of a couple of other pitchers who became outfielders; Rick Ankiel is a recent example. The other? Ah yes, a rotund orphan who did learn how to hit quite well: George Herman “Babe” Ruth. And of course the Jays’ most famous switch artist, Dave Stieb, who started in outfield and later pitched a nohitter in Cleveland. There is a great deal of young talent vying for outfield positions in Toronto. With fierce determination, I know that Loewen will do his best to win a spot next spring for the 2012 season.

sportslices.blogspot.com