Adolph slugs way to All-Star MVP award
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- When he walked into the clubhouse before the New York-Penn League All-Star Game, Brooklyn's Ross Adolph said State College manager Joe Kruzel asked him where he usually hits in the Cyclones lineup.Adolph replied that he usually hits leadoff, only for Kruzel to inform him he'd be
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- When he walked into the clubhouse before the New York-Penn League All-Star Game, Brooklyn's Ross Adolph said State College manager Joe Kruzel asked him where he usually hits in the Cyclones lineup.
Adolph replied that he usually hits leadoff, only for Kruzel to inform him he'd be batting third Tuesday night.
The 21-year-old validated his manager's decision by going 2-for-3 with a homer, triple and three RBIs to earn BUSH'S® All-Star MVP honors and lead the South to a 7-1 victory over the North in front of 3,048 fans at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
"That's how I found out I was in the starting lineup," Adolph laughed. "Once I found out, I just started getting mentally prepared and just came out to try and have fun and do my thing."
State College's
"I was just trying to make sure I wasn't going to miss my pitch," said Adolph, one of six Brooklyn All-Stars. "He had walked the guy before, so I was assuming no one wants to walk two guys in a row in an All-Star game so I figured he would throw me a fastball in a 3-2 count. I just relaxed, made sure I didn't miss and just got the job done."
Williamsport's
Adolph continued his power display in the third by blasting the first pitch he saw from Hudson Valley's
"I was feeling pretty good after the first at-bat, so I pretty much told myself that if I go up there and see [the first pitch] over the plate, I was just going to take a good hack at it," said Adolph, a 12th-round pick in this year's Draft. "I happened to get a good chunk at it."
Gameday box score
While he knows it was just a fun exhibition, Adolph knows he can carry the momentum of a night like this into the final weeks of the season.
"Just kind of growing and adapting to the change of professional ball from college," the University of Toledo product said. "At first, it was just a slow change and trying to get into a routine. But now I'm feeling comfortable and it's awesome to see how far I've come and, hopefully, I can continue to carry it over."
The South increased its lead later in the inning on a two-run single by Pirates No. 3 prospect Travis Swaggerty, who was informed prior to the game he was getting promoted to Class A West Virginia, a little over two months after he was drafted 10th overall out of the University of South Alabama.
The South could have tacked on more runs had its rally not ended abruptly at the hands of an All-Star Game rule.
All-Star lineup filled with first-place Scrappers
With two outs, Aberdeen's
Despite the quirk, Mahoning Valley right-hander
"It felt great because I signaled that I was going to throw a fastball to Reynolds," Santos said through translator and Williamsport coach
While still feeling the thrill of his 100 mph feat, Santos ended his All-Star appearance by walking to the plate, giving Rodriguez a playful hug and tipping his cap to the crowd, which gave him a nice ovation.
"This is my life," Santos said. "I love baseball and I love the fans. We're out here having fun with everybody and I was just having with Reynolds."
De La Rosa went 2-for-2, Lowell's
Shane Hennigan is a contributor to MiLB.com.