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03-29-2007, 09:11 AM
Joyce, Hollimon make push for spot on 'Wolves
BY RON LEONARDI
ron.leonardi@timesnews.com [more details]
Published: March 29. 2007 7:00AM
LAKELAND, Fla. -- From the crack of the bat, Erie SeaWolves right fielder Matt Joyce made a good read on the low, sinking liner.
Charging in and moving a few steps left, he dove and gloved the line drive a few inches above the turf, robbing Toledo second baseman Kevin Hooper of an extra-base hit.
The third-inning play was one of the few highlights in Erie's 4-0 loss to the Triple-A Mud Hens on Wednesday morning at the Tigertown minor-league complex.
As Joyce trotted back to the Erie dugout, SeaWolves manager Matt Walbeck wasn't about to let the play go unnoticed.
Turning to his players sitting on the bench, Walbeck yelled, 'Let's give it up for M.J. for that sweet catch.' "
One of the first players waiting in line to high-five Joyce was infielder Michael Hollimon.
Joyce and Hollimon have heard it all before from baseball people, how making the jump from Class A to Double-A might be the toughest climb up an organization's professional ladder.
Both players might be on the verge of landing jobs on the SeaWolves' roster after playing key roles on low-A West Michigan's Midwest League championship team last season.
"I don't know if I've made the squad, but if I'm fortunate enough to make the team, it's going to be a great opportunity," Hollimon, 24, said. "Double-A is where the best of the best are. You have to keep your wits about you and stay composed and not get too far out in front of yourself."
Baseball America ranks Hollimon 15th and Joyce 23rd among the Tigers' top minor-league prospects.
Joyce, 22, is tempering his enthusiasm regarding his chances of heading north with the SeaWolves.
"I'm not trying to get my hopes up too high because I kind of got let down last year," Joyce said.
They should know within a couple days if they bypass high Single-A Lakeland and break spring camp Sunday with the SeaWolves, who open their Eastern League season April 5 at home against the Altoona Curve.
A native of Dallas, the switch-hitting Hollimon batted .278 with 15 homers and 54 RBI in 128 games with West Michigan last season.
Joyce, who bats left, hit 11 homers and led the Whitecaps with 86 RBIs in 2006. He hit .258 in 122 games.
Joyce played college baseball at Florida Southern, just a few miles down the road from the Tigertown Complex.
"Every year we just got so excited about playing the Tigers in spring training," said Joyce, who lives in Riverview, Fla. "One year we ended up tying them. It went 10 innings and we were pumped."
Imagine the thrill Joyce felt when the Tigers selected him in the 12th round of the 2005 draft.
"I couldn't have picked a better place," he said.
"Matt has really impressed a lot of people in the organization with his defense and his hitting," Walbeck said. "It looks like he might be able to jump a level from West Michigan to Erie. He's been having a great spring. Even in the big-league camp, when he's had an opportunity, he's done well."
Hitting cleanup at West Michigan last season, Joyce attributed much of his run production to having Cameron Maybin, the Tigers' No. 1 draft pick in 2005, hitting in front of him.
"He could run like the wind, so a lot of those RBIs came from him," Joyce said. "I'm going to miss him this year if I don't get to play with him."
Hollimon opted for college after completing his high school career. He played three years at Texas before transferring to Oral Roberts for his senior season. The Tigers selected him in the 16th round of the 2005 draft.
"I decided to go to college and it was the best thing I could have done," Hollimon said. "I faced adversity and I know how to handle it now. Having the college experience made me mature into a man and taught me how to handle problems that I now know how to deal with."
Hollimon led the Midwest League with 13 triples a year ago and ranked in the league's top five in extra-base hits, walks, total bases and slugging percentage.
After playing shortstop in his first two pro seasons, his biggest challenge this spring has been making a transition to second base.
With Brent Dlugach, another Double-A rookie hopeful, expected to be the SeaWolves' everyday shortstop to begin the season, the Tigers feel Hollimon can handle the switch to second, a position that might better suit his range and arm strength.
"He's a college guy and has some age on his side," Walbeck said. "With his maturity and knowledge of the game, we think it should be a pretty easy adjustment for him. He has great work habits and this could be a possible good position for him."
Aside from playing second in only a handful of games in high school, Hollimon admits he is a neophyte at the position, though he says he is adjusting well to the change.
"All of the instructors have been working hard helping me try to get comfortable over there," Hollimon said. "It's a different angle than shortstop and you have different responsibilities and priorities. I think it's going well. You can never work hard enough. One of the things I pride myself on is getting after it and working as hard as I can."
West Michigan dominated both halves of its 2006 season, finishing 89-48 and winning its second Midwest League championship in three years under Walbeck, who was appointed Erie's manager in early November.
"Last season was special," Hollimon said. "That was a great season. The team developed together well and that's what we're going to try and do this year. If I'm part of this Erie team, I'll do all I can to bring that feeling to the SeaWolves."
RON LEONARDI can be reached at 870-1680 or by e-mail.
http://goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070329/BASEBALL01/703290423/-1/SPORTS
BY RON LEONARDI
ron.leonardi@timesnews.com [more details]
Published: March 29. 2007 7:00AM
LAKELAND, Fla. -- From the crack of the bat, Erie SeaWolves right fielder Matt Joyce made a good read on the low, sinking liner.
Charging in and moving a few steps left, he dove and gloved the line drive a few inches above the turf, robbing Toledo second baseman Kevin Hooper of an extra-base hit.
The third-inning play was one of the few highlights in Erie's 4-0 loss to the Triple-A Mud Hens on Wednesday morning at the Tigertown minor-league complex.
As Joyce trotted back to the Erie dugout, SeaWolves manager Matt Walbeck wasn't about to let the play go unnoticed.
Turning to his players sitting on the bench, Walbeck yelled, 'Let's give it up for M.J. for that sweet catch.' "
One of the first players waiting in line to high-five Joyce was infielder Michael Hollimon.
Joyce and Hollimon have heard it all before from baseball people, how making the jump from Class A to Double-A might be the toughest climb up an organization's professional ladder.
Both players might be on the verge of landing jobs on the SeaWolves' roster after playing key roles on low-A West Michigan's Midwest League championship team last season.
"I don't know if I've made the squad, but if I'm fortunate enough to make the team, it's going to be a great opportunity," Hollimon, 24, said. "Double-A is where the best of the best are. You have to keep your wits about you and stay composed and not get too far out in front of yourself."
Baseball America ranks Hollimon 15th and Joyce 23rd among the Tigers' top minor-league prospects.
Joyce, 22, is tempering his enthusiasm regarding his chances of heading north with the SeaWolves.
"I'm not trying to get my hopes up too high because I kind of got let down last year," Joyce said.
They should know within a couple days if they bypass high Single-A Lakeland and break spring camp Sunday with the SeaWolves, who open their Eastern League season April 5 at home against the Altoona Curve.
A native of Dallas, the switch-hitting Hollimon batted .278 with 15 homers and 54 RBI in 128 games with West Michigan last season.
Joyce, who bats left, hit 11 homers and led the Whitecaps with 86 RBIs in 2006. He hit .258 in 122 games.
Joyce played college baseball at Florida Southern, just a few miles down the road from the Tigertown Complex.
"Every year we just got so excited about playing the Tigers in spring training," said Joyce, who lives in Riverview, Fla. "One year we ended up tying them. It went 10 innings and we were pumped."
Imagine the thrill Joyce felt when the Tigers selected him in the 12th round of the 2005 draft.
"I couldn't have picked a better place," he said.
"Matt has really impressed a lot of people in the organization with his defense and his hitting," Walbeck said. "It looks like he might be able to jump a level from West Michigan to Erie. He's been having a great spring. Even in the big-league camp, when he's had an opportunity, he's done well."
Hitting cleanup at West Michigan last season, Joyce attributed much of his run production to having Cameron Maybin, the Tigers' No. 1 draft pick in 2005, hitting in front of him.
"He could run like the wind, so a lot of those RBIs came from him," Joyce said. "I'm going to miss him this year if I don't get to play with him."
Hollimon opted for college after completing his high school career. He played three years at Texas before transferring to Oral Roberts for his senior season. The Tigers selected him in the 16th round of the 2005 draft.
"I decided to go to college and it was the best thing I could have done," Hollimon said. "I faced adversity and I know how to handle it now. Having the college experience made me mature into a man and taught me how to handle problems that I now know how to deal with."
Hollimon led the Midwest League with 13 triples a year ago and ranked in the league's top five in extra-base hits, walks, total bases and slugging percentage.
After playing shortstop in his first two pro seasons, his biggest challenge this spring has been making a transition to second base.
With Brent Dlugach, another Double-A rookie hopeful, expected to be the SeaWolves' everyday shortstop to begin the season, the Tigers feel Hollimon can handle the switch to second, a position that might better suit his range and arm strength.
"He's a college guy and has some age on his side," Walbeck said. "With his maturity and knowledge of the game, we think it should be a pretty easy adjustment for him. He has great work habits and this could be a possible good position for him."
Aside from playing second in only a handful of games in high school, Hollimon admits he is a neophyte at the position, though he says he is adjusting well to the change.
"All of the instructors have been working hard helping me try to get comfortable over there," Hollimon said. "It's a different angle than shortstop and you have different responsibilities and priorities. I think it's going well. You can never work hard enough. One of the things I pride myself on is getting after it and working as hard as I can."
West Michigan dominated both halves of its 2006 season, finishing 89-48 and winning its second Midwest League championship in three years under Walbeck, who was appointed Erie's manager in early November.
"Last season was special," Hollimon said. "That was a great season. The team developed together well and that's what we're going to try and do this year. If I'm part of this Erie team, I'll do all I can to bring that feeling to the SeaWolves."
RON LEONARDI can be reached at 870-1680 or by e-mail.
http://goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070329/BASEBALL01/703290423/-1/SPORTS