A year ago, Wady Almonte's career in the Orioles' farm system was scraping bottom.
He had struck out nine times in 21 official at-bats at Bowie before tearing a ligament in his right elbow April 18 and heading for the disabled list and rehabilitation for the remainder of the season.
But the idle time served Almonte well. He got married and fathered a child, giving him different perspectives, on both baseball and life. When spring training arrived, he realized he was at a crossroads.
"I figured out that this year is very important for me," said the native of the Dominican Republic. "New kids come in every year seeking jobs. I know I have to work hard because I have a family to take care of."
"His whole attitude had changed when he came to spring training," said Baysox manager Joe Ferguson. "His energy level was higher, his thirst for direction was higher. He really wanted to know what was going to make him better and get him to the big leagues."
The application of that new outlook has been evident on the field. Almonte, 24, is finally making an impact in Double-A after two previous flops. And he is looking like the prospect the Orioles thought they had when Carlos Bernhardt signed him as a free agent in 1993.
The outfielder with the cannon-like throwing arm is among the team leaders in batting average, runs, hits, home runs, runs batted in and slugging percentage. His strikeout frequency has been pared to a modest level.
"I think the difference is I'm trying to hit the opposite way now and don't open up as quickly," he said. "I don't have as much trouble with the outside breaking ball and I see the ball a lot better."
Ferguson believes maturity has more to do with it than mechanics.
"Sometimes you have to go all the way to the bottom before you can see a light at the end of the tunnel," he said. "I'm very proud of Wady. He's matured, and that's what you have to be at this level because of the competition. He understands what he has to do."
"I think I'm a different guy than the year before," said Almonte.
Triple-A Rochester
The Red Wings are hoping for a lift from infielder P.J. Forbes, the spark plug of the 1997 Governor's Cup team and a .293 hitter with them last season. Forbes is scheduled to play four positions for the struggling Red Wings after being acquired from the Texas organization for future considerations. Injuries and absences left the Wings without a player on the bench for a doubleheader Thursday. Jesse Garcia is out for 10 days with a sprained wrist, and Lyle Mouton left to be with his wife during the birth of his first son, Cameron. In addition, Jerry Hairston was tossed from one of the games. Before suffering a partial tear of his left rotator cuff, lefty Terry Burrows had retired 31 of 32 left-handed hitters. Two lefties homered off him after the injury. He is out for at least a month. Wings by the numbers: 2-12 during a 14-game home stretch, 1-22 when trailing after six innings, 6-24 when opponents score first, shut out six times. Lack of punch (.237 team average) and base-running miscues have been problems for Rochester, which tops the International League in ERA. Gabe Molina stretched his Triple-A scoreless streak to 13 2/3 innings and has allowed a .174 opponent batting average. Scott Kamieniecki left his latest start after three innings with stiffness in the lower back. Jim Foster has yet to homer and has thrown out only eight of 44 base stealers. The heralded starting infield of Ryan Minor, Calvin Pickering, Hairston and Garcia has started only two games together.
Double-A Bowie
Yesterday, Javier De La Hoya got his eighth victory, the most ever by a Baysox starter by the end of May. It also leads the Eastern League. The Baysox have been beset by injuries, with Scott Gentile going on the disabled list with a strained forearm and Chip Alley (strained ankle), Johnny Isom (quadriceps) and Julio Moreno (slight elbow strain) all in Florida rehabilitating. The club signed veteran pitcher Ron Blazier and former Orioles farmhand Cesar Devarez, who went 5-for-13 in his first four games. Catcher Mike Lopez-Cao was sent to Frederick to make room for Devarez. Tim DeCinces was reinstated after serving three days of a club-imposed suspension. He had three homers in six games before the ban. Augie Ojeda had a 12-game hitting streak end when he had to attempt a sacrifice during his last at-bat. Rick Short hit in 13 of 14 games to climb above .300. Short has played five positions and hit in eight spots in the batting order. Bowie has not been more than two games ahead in the Southern Division, nor more than two games out of first place all season.
Single-A Frederick
The Keys remain in a three-way battle with Wilmington and Lynchburg for the Northern Division title in the Carolina League. The Keys play those two teams all this week and later have a home series against Lynchburg to end the first-half race. Darnell McDonald, a first-round choice in 1997, continues to struggle at the plate, with his average dropping below .200. He went 1-for-16 during one stretch and was shifted to the leadoff spot in an effort to help him shake the slump. The Keys are last in the league in home runs, but third in team hitting. Craig Daedelow has started at five different positions in Frederick after batting .328 at Delmarva. Richard Bauer won two starts last week, allowing 10 hits in 13 innings and throwing a seven-inning complete game. Over 10 appearances, Jeremy Halpin has a 1.96 ERA. He has walked only two batters unintentionally in 31 1/3 innings. The Keys are far in front in team stolen bases with 77. Luis Matos is third individually with 19 and Eddy Martinez fourth with 18. Franky Figueroa batted 100 points higher (.291) in May than in April.
Single-A Delmarva
Shorebirds catcher Tom McGee set a team record with three home runs in a game against Hickory last week, but the Shorebirds lost, 6-5. All their runs came on bases-empty homers. McGee has climbed into the team batting lead after reaching safely in 15 straight games. Delmarva continues to struggle offensively, but tops the South Atlantic League in walks, with 5.19 per game. Tim Raines Jr. rose above the .200 level for the first time by batting .306 over a 13-game span. Steven Bechler went 2-1 with a 1.61 ERA over four starts to lower his overall ERA to 2.94. Juan Guzman has been starting recently after having success out of the bullpen.
Scores, schedule
Yesterday's results
International League
Louisville 4, Rochester 3
Eastern League
Bowie 5, Binghamton 1: Javier De la Hoya fired a complete game six-hitter as the host Baysox won the Double-A game.
De la Hoya (8-1) allowed five singles and a fourth-inning, bases-empty home run by Mets first baseman Bryon Gainey. De la Hoya walked one and struck out four.
Rick Short and Cesar Devarez chipped in with RBI singles in the seventh to cap the scoring for Bowie.
Carolina League
Myrtle Beach 9, Frederick 3: Mike Hessman doubled and homered as the visiting Pelicans routed the Keys in a Single-A game. The Pelicans extended their winning streak to five games and finished the series against the Keys at 5-1.
Joey Nation (1-0) collected his first win for the Pelicans, yielding one run over five innings. Loser Jay Spurgeon (2-3) gave up eight runs, six of them earned, in 5 1/3 innings.
Darnell McDonald led the Keys with three hits and one RBI. Franky Figueroa added a bases-empty home run.
South Atlantic League
Cape Fear 10, Hagerstown 5
Capital City 15, Delmarva 4: Yon German pitched seven scoreless innings as the visiting Bombers rolled in a Single-A game.
German (7-1) gave up six hits and struck out six for the win. Brian Cole, Brian Jenkins and Kelly Ramos had three hits each for the Bombers, who finished with 18.
Loser Ricky Casteel (1-5) gave up 11 hits and eight runs, six of them earned, over six innings.
All four Delmarva runs came in the eighth inning off reliever Pat Gorman. Tom McGee hit a bases-loaded double to drive in two runs.
Today's games
International League
Rochester at Louisville, 7: 05
Eastern League
Bowie at New Britain, 7: 05
Carolina League
Frederick at Lynchburg, 7: 05
South Atlantic League
Delmarva vs. Capital City, 7: 05
Cape Fear at Hagerstown, 7: 05
Pub Date: 5/31/99