Salt Lake Bees: Adenhart nears big-league goal
The 21-year-old, who is tabbed as the top pitching prospect in the Angels organization, has quickly worked his way up baseball's ladder despite a serious setback along the way — Tommy John surgery after blowing out his elbow as a high school senior.
The operation, however, was merely a speed bump along the way.
Baseball America's Youth Player of the Year in 2003 has made continual progress ever since turning down a scholarship to North Carolina by accepting a $710,000 signing bonus from the Angels. The 14th-round draft pick, a projected first-rounder before the injury, succeeded in the Arizona League and Orem of the Pioneer League as a rookie. He followed it up with successful stints at single-A Cedar Rapids and Rancho Cucamonga before moving on to double-A Arkansas.
This year, the 6-foot-4, 190-poundr right-hander from Williamsport, Md., is part of the starting rotation for the triple-A Salt Lake Bees. His next promotion will be to the Angels.
"It's something I've been trying to realize since I was a little kid. So it's exciting," said Adenhart. "I don't want to put too much pressure on myself. I understand what I can do and what I need to do."
Adenhart doesn't just want to make it to the big leagues, he wants to stick around for a long time.
"It was my goal going into spring training and it'll be my goal until it's completed," he said. "I think it's just staying ready at this point. Knowing how close you are — one step away — you are the understudy and you've just got to keep working."
Adenhart, who describes himself as being in between a power pitcher and someone who can throw three pitches well, aims to maintain consistency — throwing strikes with his fastball, curveball and change-up.
"Right now his only downfall is his fast-ball command a little bit. But as far as his stuff, it's great. The makeup is great," said Salt Lake pitching coach Erik Bennett. "We've just got to get a little bit better control of his fastball. He's close. He's real close, as are all the guys — real close."
Adenhart was 10-8 with a 3.65 ERA last season at Arkansas. He racked up 155 strikeouts, but walked 65 batters.
"He's just got to try and cut down on his walks a little bit this year," added Bennett. "And get quicker outs so he can stay in longer."
Bees manager Bobby Mitchell said Adenhart is "definitely a major league pitcher" who will be with the Angels soon.
"He's very close," he explained. "He just needs more experience, more seasoning. He has great stuff."
Adenhart's tenure in Salt Lake will definitely help, Mitchell said while noting that the pitcher has a good down angle with his fastball, a great change-up when he's on and a developing curveball.
"He's just a step away from the big leagues from a pitching standpoint," said Mitchell. "He'll be there. It's just a matter of when he'll be there."
E-mail: dirk@desnews.com
You can be the first to comment on this story.