As we begin to see signs of a brutal winter coming to a conclusion, the Lexington Legends are preparing for a new season set to begin April 7. While some things will change, such as the name of the stadium (now Whitaker Bank Ballpark following 10 years as Applebee's Park), and of course the new faces of the young players, one thing remains a constant ... excitement abounds with the minor league club.
Second-year manager Rodney Linares (71-68 in 2010) will welcome some of the Houston Astros' top prospects just embarking on their professional baseball careers. Delino DeShields Jr., the Astros top pick in the 2010 first-year player draft (no. 8 overall), is expected to begin the 2011 season in Lexington. The speedy infielder would generate loads of excitement with his base stealing ability and slick fielding skills. DeShields, whose father Delino DeShields Sr. enjoyed a 13-year career in the majors, had a taste of professional baseball late last summer, hitting .313 with five steals in 16 games for Greeneville in the Appalachian rookie league.
Fellow 2011 first-round draft selection (no. 19 overall) Mike Foltynewicz is also a prime candidate to being the season in Lexington. The 6-4 pitcher, who chose to sign to play professional baseball right out of high school rather than taking his skills to the University of Texas, will be handled carefully in his first full season of professional baseball. The Minooka, Ill. native who can touch 96 MPH with his fast ball, can expect to throw around 150 innings this season with advancing to Double-A ball by 2012 as a realistic goal.
Austin Wates, a third-round draft pick out of Virginia Tech, and Houston's no. 9 prospect according to Baseball America's, should land in Lexington as well. The outfielder stole nine bases in just 12 games for Tri-City of the New York-Penn League late last summer, and would team with DeShields to cause havoc on the bases at the top of the lineup for the Legends.
As usual, Lexington will host some of baseballs top prospects from other organizations. The Legends welcome Hagerstown April 11-14, and the Suns are expected to bring with them 2010 top draft selection Bryce Harper, who has already graced the cover of Sports Illustrated as a high school phenom in Las Vegas.
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