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San Diego Padres

Watch these locals during 2021 MLB season

April 6, 2021 By Kevin Weiss

The 2021 Major League Baseball (MLB) season is officially here —with more normalcy, to boot.

Following last year’s COVID-19 pandemic-delayed and shortened season that saw the World Series played at its first-ever neutral site in Arlington, Texas, America’s pastime has returned back to its traditional 162-game schedule on time, April 1 — with live fans allowed back in stadiums.

Sure, quirks remain.

For instance, the Toronto Blue Jays are starting off the season playing “home” games in Dunedin —amid Canadian-U.S. border restrictions.

For the most part, though, the peanuts and Cracker Jacks will be a flowing much like they were in simpler times.

As the big league season gets into full swing, there are several ballplayers, and a manager, that have their roots in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area — and are expected to make major contributions to the show.

Here’s a rundown on some of those, with local connections.

Zephyrhills High product Austin Adams is expected to play a major bullpen role for the San Diego Padres this season. (File)

Austin Adams, San Diego Padres, pitcher
Local tie: Zephyrhills High School
Austin Adams is seeking a more pronounced role in 2021 on a contending San Diego Padres squad after garnering limited action last year — where he posted a 4.50 ERA, 12.5 WHIP and seven strikeouts in four innings pitched following offseason knee surgery.

Some experts project the 29-year-old, 6-foot-3, 220-pound righty will have a breakout season, thanks to a high-spin rate fastball and slider, which generate plenty of swings and misses.

But, he’ll begin the season on the 10-day injured list with what’s described as a minor elbow issue, preventing him from making a spring appearance since March 7.

Adams grew up in Zephyrhills, playing little league at Sam Pasco Park. He went on to earn four letters in baseball (and one in basketball) at Zephyrhills High School from 2006 to 2009.

He posted a 2.43 ERA and 80 strikeouts in his Bulldog career.

Adams’ high school pedigree led to a baseball scholarship at the University of South Florida, a program that achieved its first Big East Championship final in 2012, during his junior year.

He then was drafted in the eighth round by the Los Angeles Angels in 2013. He also spent time with the Washington Nationals and Seattle Mariners organizations.

His road to the big leagues was lengthy, having thrown more than 250 innings across five minor league seasons before making his MLB debut in 2017 with the Nationals (from where he was traded to by Los Angeles in late 2016).

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher John Gant, a Wiregrass Ranch High product

John Gant, St. Louis Cardinals, pitcher
Local tie: Wiregrass Ranch High School
Following several seasons of sustained solid output with the St. Louis Cardinals, John Gant has secured the organization’s fifth starter spot to begin the regular season.

The 28-year-old Gant exhibited enough in spring training, making four appearances (three starts) and posting a 4.40 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 13 strikeouts in 14.1 innings.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound righty has held a variety of pitching roles entering his sixth big league campaign, including a mid- and late-inning bullpen arm in 2020, turning in a 2.40 ERA, 1.076 WHIP and 18 strikeouts across 15 innings.

Gant is known for having one of the more unique windups in all of baseball, whereby he takes a couple left-footed toe taps, then pauses before firing off a pitch.

Part of his repertoire is a changeup nicknamed “The Vulcan,” which involves gripping the ball between the middle and ring fingers. Its nicknamed after the Vulcan salute used by Spock in the Star Trek series.

Gant has other interesting baseball footnotes, too.

He earned 11 wins in relief in 2019, the most of any reliever that year and most by a Cardinals relief pitcher since Al Hrabosky had 13 in 1975. Also, in 2018, he became the only player in Major League history to have hit at least two home runs while never having reached base safely by any other means.

Gant starred on the Wiregrass Ranch High varsity baseball team from 2008 to 2011 — striking out over 200 batters and sustaining just three losses in four years.

He also was a member of the Wiregrass Ranch basketball and swimming teams. His father, John Sr., was a science teacher at the school and longtime varsity girls basketball coach.

The pitching standout signed with the New York Mets out of high school and spent five years in the minors before making his big league debut in 2016 with the Atlanta Braves, then was traded to the Cardinals that offseason.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Nate Pearson is an Odessa native and Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School product.

Nate Pearson, Toronto Blue Jays, pitcher
Local tie: Odessa native, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School
Nate Pearson enters the 2021 season on the 10-day injured list due to a strained right groin suffered in spring training, but is expected to make substantial contributions to a Toronto Blue Jays poised for a second straight playoff berth — as he was all but penciled in to be the team’s No. 2 starter before multiple injury setbacks.

One of the game’s top-rated prospects, Pearson made his MLB debut last season, finishing the year with a 4.22 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 16 strikeouts in 10.2 innings.

The 24-year-old, 6-foot-6, 250-pound righty flamethrower is regarded for a fastball that regularly touches triple digits, plus a low-to-mid 90s slider and a developing changeup.

Born and raised in Odessa, Pearson starred at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, helping the program to the Class 3A state semifinals as a senior in 2015. He wrapped up his prep career with a career 1.24 earned run average and 144 strikeouts in 101.2 innings pitched, with a 12-1 record.

Pearson went on to play college baseball at Miami’s Florida International University, then transferred to the College of Central Florida in Ocala. There, he was named the Rawlings/Perfect Game JUCO Pitcher of the Year, and subsequently selected by the Blue Jays in the first round (28th overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft, signing for a $2.45 million bonus.

Pearson has proceeded to shine at each level of the minors, boasting a combined 2.19 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 119 strikeouts across 123.1 innings from rookie ball through Triple-A.

Staying healthy and available will be key.

Cleveland Indians outfielder Oscar Mercado is a Gaither High product.

Oscar Mercado, Cleveland Indians, outfielder
Local tie: Gaither High School
Oscar Mercado was one of the Cleveland Indians’ final spring training cuts and optioned to Triple-A Columbus, but expect to see the speedy centerfielder garner some action sometime this season if others get hurt or otherwise underwhelm over the course of the long-winded 162-game regular season.

Reports indicate the decision by the team’s front office and coaching staff was to help boost 26-year-old’s confidence following a subpar 2020 campaign where he hit a paltry .128 with a .348 OPS in 36 games.

His spring training numbers didn’t fare much better, batting .214 with a .527 OPS in 28 at-bats.

This is all a far cry from his breakout rookie season in 2019 where the 6-foot-2, 197-pound Mercado batted .269 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs in 119 games, adding 70 runs scored, 25 doubles, three triples and 15 stolen bases.

Getting more reps on a hitting program out of the pressure and spotlight of the major league club should help Mercado’s cause going forward.

A native of Colombia, Mercado and his family emigrated to the United States, and settled in the Tampa area when he was 7 years old. He became a four-year starter at shortstop at Gaither High School from 2010 to 2013, leading the program to back-to-back district crowns and ranked among the nation’s top prep middle infielders.

Following high school, Mercado was picked by St. Louis Cardinals in the second round (57th overall) in the 2013 MLB Draft, signing with the club for a $1.5 million signing bonus. He spent nearly six years working through the Cardinals minor league system until he was traded to the Indians in July 2018.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash, a Lutz native and Gaither High alum

Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay Rays, manager
Local tie: Lutz native, Gaither High School
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash last year managed his hometown franchise to heights it never before reached — Game 6 of the World Series.

The seventh-year manager and his team are hoping for a similar historical encore, albeit with an altered roster that blends in plenty new faces, particularly on the pitching side, and already enters the season with a handful of key injuries.

But, the reigning American League Manager of the Year surely has myriad solutions in the way of ever-changing batting orders, openers, platoons, shifts, and mixing and matching the rotation and bullpen. His reputation for fostering a loose, welcoming clubhouse to settle players shouldn’t hurt, either.

The question is if the 43-year-old Cash and company can lead the Rays to a third straight playoff berth amid an AL East division that features a financially beefier New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays rosters, plus the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles.

The Rays are once again an underdog, as many media outlets peg them for a third- or even fourth-place finish in the division and winning fewer than 90 regular season contests.

The respected skipper is a key cog to proving naysayers wrong.

Cash spent his younger days growing up in the Valley Ranch Drive neighborhood, situated across from Lake Park in Lutz.

He first hit the national scene in 1989 — then a 12-year-old second baseman for a Northside Little League team that reached the 43rd Little League World Series.
Cash later starred at Gaither High School, penning that into a successful college run at Florida State University and eight-year MLB career as a journeyman catcher mostly.

Cash is a baseball legacy of sort, as his father and uncle both played professionally, the latter reaching the big leagues in the 1970s.

Others to follow:

• Frank German, Boston Red Sox, pitcher: This Bishop McLaughlin product joined the Boston Red Sox in January, in a trade with the New York Yankees, who had selected him in the fourth round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of University of North Florida. The 23-year-old German was a non-roster invitee to Red Sox spring training, where he faced 14 batters across three innings before a reassignment. German has posted a 3.56 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 128 innings across 111.1 innings of the minors, between rookie ball and Single-A.

• Joe Hudson, Pittsburgh Pirates, catcher: This Odessa native who prepped at Tampa Jesuit (and college at Notre Dame) played in nine regular season games last season with the Seattle Mariners then signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates this offseason. The 29-year-old Hudson enjoyed a strong spring training as a Pirates non-roster invitee, collecting five hits (including a homer) in 13 at-bats across nine games, which may be credited to a revamped swing.

• CJ Van Eyk, Toronto Blue Jays, pitcher: The Lutz native and Steinbrenner product has yet to play in a minor league game since being drafted in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Florida State University. However, the well-rounded 22-year-old righty thrower could be a quick riser in the Toronto Blue Jays system, considering his college experience and limited action in spring training as a non-roster invitee.

Published April 07, 2021

Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Austin Adams, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, Boston Red Sox, CJ Van Eyk, Cleveland Indians, Frank German, Gaither High School, Joe Hudson, John Gant, Kevin Cash, Major League Baseball, MLB, Nate Pearson, Oscar Mercado, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Steinbrenner High School, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zephyrhills High School

MLB playoffs are here, featuring these locals

September 29, 2020 By Kevin Weiss

This rapid-fire 2020 Major League Baseball (MLB) season has been anything but ordinary — from the condensed 60-game slate to the implementation of novel rules, such as expanded rosters, universal designated hitter, seven-inning doubleheaders, and runner-on-second rule in extra innings.

That’s not even mentioning the myriad health and safety protocols pro baseball organizations have been forced to navigate amid the COVID-19 pandemic — which included all games being played in stadiums without fans.

Maybe one of the positive benefits of the new 16-team expanded playoffs format is more opportunity for several locals with ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area to showcase their skills and abilities in front of a national audience, with hopes of winning a World Series title this fall.

Here’s a closer look at the hometown products who may be seen this week and beyond throughout the postseason, which runs Sept. 29 through mid-October:

Zephyrhills High product Austin Adams is finding his groove after offseason knee surgery, for the San Diego Padres (Courtesy of MLB Advanced Media/MLB.com)

Austin Adams, San Diego Padres, pitcher
Local tie: Zephyrhills High School

Twenty-nine-year-old Austin Adams earned the benefit of being traded from the losing Seattle Mariners to the playoff-bound Padres (No. 4 seed National League) at the Aug. 31 trade deadline.

As it turned out, Adams’ first action in 2020 actually didn’t come until he put on a Padres uniform, as he was still nursing offseason knee surgery.

The righty looked reliable in his three late-season appearances with San Diego, posting a 4.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and seven strikeouts in 4 innings pitched, exhibiting top-level four-seam fastball velocity and spin rates, to go along with a signature slider.

Adams grew up in Zephyrhills, playing little league at Sam Pasco Park. He went on to earn four letters in baseball (and one in basketball) at Zephyrhills High School from 2006 to 2009. He posted a 2.43 ERA and 80 strikeouts in his Bulldog career.

Adams’ high school success led to a baseball scholarship at the University of South Florida, a program that had its first Big East Championship final in 2012, during his junior year.

Other MLB players hailing from the Zephyrhills area are Dave Eiland (1988-2000) and Domonic Brown (2010-2015).

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher John Gant, a Wiregrass Ranch High product (File)

John Gant, St. Louis Cardinals, pitcher
Local tie: Wiregrass Ranch High School

Twenty-eight-year-old John Gant presently is on the team’s 10-day injured list (right groin tightness) and likely won’t make an appearance unless the Cardinals make a deep postseason run.

However, he played an integral bullpen role as a late-inning reliever and setup man for a Cardinals (No. 5 seed, National League) organization forced to play 11 doubleheaders after a rash of COVID-19 cases forced them to miss 19 days of competition in July and August.

In 17 appearances, the fifth-year MLB vet went 0-3, but compiled a career-best 2.40 ERA and 1.07 WHIP, striking out 18 batters in 15 innings pitched.

Gant starred on the Wiregrass Ranch High varsity baseball team from 2008 to 2011 — striking out over 200 batters and suffering just three losses in four years. He also was a member of the Wiregrass Ranch basketball and swimming teams, and also served as scorekeeper for the girls basketball program, which was coached by his father, John Sr., then a science teacher at the school.

Gant signed with the New York Mets out of high school and spent five years in the minors before making his big league debut in 2016 (then for the Atlanta Braves).

Matt Joyce, Miami Marlins, outfielder
Local tie: New Tampa resident/business owner

New Tampa resident and business owner Matt Joyce is going strong at 36 years old, for the Miami Marlins. (Courtesy of MLB Advanced Media/MLB.com)

Thirty-six-year-old Matt Joyce has played a key leadership and mostly everyday role for a Marlins (No. 6 seed, National League) organization that not only clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2003, but also had to overcome an early season COVID-19 outbreak that had 18 players test positive — forcing the team to find reinforcements in its minor league system and free agent market.

The corner outfielder began the season on the injured list, but went on to post a .252/.351/.331 line with two homers and 14 RBIs in 46 games.

In the playoffs, expect Joyce to continue to get consistent playing time, particularly against right-handed pitching — which he’s made his lengthy career on.

Through born and raised in Brandon, the 12-year MLB veteran has since made New Tampa home, living in the Hunter’s Green area and recently opening an F45 Training fitness center chain at The Walk at Highwoods Preserve neighborhood shopping center.

Oscar Mercado, Cleveland Indians, outfielder
Local tie: Gaither High School

Cleveland Indians outfielder Oscar Mercado is a Gaither High product (File)

Twenty-five-year-old Oscar Mercado has struggled mightily, offensively in his sophomore MLB season —posting a .128/.174/.174 line and just two extra-base hits in 86 at-bats across 36 games, as he dealt with swing mechanic issues all year long.

It’s a far cry from a showy rookie season in 2018 when he batted .269 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs in 119 games, adding 70 runs scored, 25 doubles, three triples and 15 stolen bases.
Even with his struggles at the plate, Mercado has provided defensive value in the outfield and with his speed on the base paths — skills that could be put on display in the playoffs for the Indians (No. 4 seed, American League)
A native of Columbia, Mercado and his family emigrated to the United States and settled in the Tampa area when he was 7 years old. He became a four-year starter at shortstop at Gaither High School from 2010 to 2013, leading the program to back-to-back district crowns. Following a storied prep career, he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals after being a second round draft pick in 2013.

Nate Pearson, Toronto Blue Jays, pitcher
Local tie: Odessa native, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Nate Pearson is an Odessa native and Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School product (File)

Twenty-four-year-old Nate Pearson entered the season as one of the most prized prospects in baseball, thanks to a fastball that regularly touches triple digits combined with multiple refined breaking balls.
The 6-foot-6 right-hander missed over a month of the season because of elbow tightness, but seems ready for the postseason after picking up his first career win on Sept. 25 — firing 1.2 scoreless innings against the Baltimore Orioles and hitting 101.5 miles per hour on the radar gun. He finished the year with a 6.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 16 strikeouts in 18 innings.
The Odessa native starred at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, helping the program to the Class 3A state semifinals as a senior in 2015. He wrapped up his prep career with a career 1.24 earned run average and 144 strikeouts in 101.2 innings pitched, with a 12-1 record. He later became a first round draft pick in 2017 out of Central College of Florida in Ocala.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash, a Lutz native and Gaither High alumnus (File)

Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay Rays, manager
Local tie: Gaither High School

Kevin Cash, the 42-year-old skipper, seemingly has pulled all the right strings for a Rays (No. 1 seed, American League) club that went 40-20 despite a rash of injuries to its pitching staff (they had as many as 12 pitchers on the injured list at one point).

With that, Cash appears to be a front-runner for the AL Manager of the Year award, navigating a young, unheralded roster and putting players in position to succeed via unorthodox lineups, bullpens, platoons, defensive positioning and shifts, and more. The sixth-year manager also receives high marks for his leadership in galvanizing a clubhouse that features so many players from different countries, cultures and backgrounds.

Cash spent his younger days growing up in the Valley Ranch Drive neighborhood, situated across from Lake Park in Lutz. He first hit the national scene in 1989 — then a 12-year-old second baseman for a Northside Little League team that reached the 43rd Little League World Series.
Cash later starred at Gaither High School, penning that into a successful college run at Florida State University and eight-year MLB career as a journeyman catcher mostly.

Visit MLB.com for updated playoff schedules, and how and when to see these locals in action.

Published September 30, 2020

Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Austin Adams, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, Gaither High SchoolMajor League Baseball, John Gant, Kevin Cash, Matt Joyce, Miami Marlins, MLB, Nate Pearson, New Tampa, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zephyrhills High School

Locals well-represented in 2018 MLB Draft

June 20, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Becoming a professional baseball player will soon be a reality for a handful of athletes with ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

The 2018 Major League Baseball Draft ran from June 4 to June 6 — whereby four locals had their names called.

University of North Florida junior right-hander Frank German, who grew up in Lutz and graduated from Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, represented the highest local draftee when he was taken in the fourth round (127th overall) by the New York Yankees. German recently signed with the club for a reported bonus of $350,000.

German’s college teammate, junior lefty Austin Drury, a Land O’ Lakes native/ Wiregrass Ranch High School product, was also drafted, in the 34th round (1034th overall) by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Meanwhile, a pair of Saint Leo ballplayers also were selected — junior righty/first baseman Jake Sims, in the 31st round (921st overall) by the San Diego Padres; and senior second baseman Zach Scott, in the 32nd round (958th overall) by the Seattle Mariners.

Both Sims, who signed with the Padres on June 12 for an undisclosed amount, and Scott helped Saint Leo University to a 38-11 record and a 21-9 mark in the Sunshine State Conference.

They respectively join 49 other former Lions who have had their name called for the draft, dating back to 1969.

Elsewhere, Saint Leo signee Waylon Richardson was also drafted, in the 40th round (1,187th overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Richardson, a 6-foot-5 righty out of Kankakee (Illinois) Community College, opted to sign with the Phillies for an undisclosed amount, forgoing his eligibility to play baseball for Saint Leo.

The first-year player draft is Major League Baseball’s primary mechanism for assigning amateur baseball players, from high schools, colleges and other amateur baseball clubs, to its 30 teams — which offer up millions of dollars in signing bonuses to its top draftees.

All 30 MLB teams have until July 6 to get 2018 drafted players signed.

There were 40 rounds and 1,214 picks in total, during the three-day draft.

Players came from across the United States and Canada, from high school and college, and from every position on the diamond. There were players from 47 states taken.

Of those picks, 158 were from Florida, second to only California, which yielded 187 selections. Following California and Florida, were Texas (114 draftees), Georgia (65) and North Carolina (49).

Last year’s draft was particular fruitful for area talent.

Among the 2017 crop were four Steinbrenner High School products — Kevin Merrell (first round), Patrick Morris (14th round), Josh Falk (17th round) and CJ Van Eyk (19th round); Bishop McLaughlin products Nate Pearson (first round) and Paul Coumoulos (40th round); and Sunlake High School’s Tommy Mace (14th round).

Here’s a closer look at the local 2018 MLB draftees:

Frank German, right-handed pitcher (New York Yankees-fourth round, 127th overall)
Hometown: Lutz/Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School
College: University of North Florida

Frank German, a Lutz native who graduated from Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School before attending the University of North Florida, was selected as a pitcher in the fourth round by the New York Yankees in the 2018 MLB Draft. (Courtesy of University of North Florida Athletics)

As a fourth round selection, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound righty became the highest-drafted pitcher in North Florida program history, which previously never had an arm drafted within the top five rounds.

This past season, German went 8-3, posting a team-leading 1.58 earned run average and 108 strikeouts in 91.1 innings. He allowed one or fewer earned runs in 11 of his 14 starts, while notching six or more strikeouts in 13 contests. He also allowed just 14 walks and held opponent bats to just a .190 average.

German picked up All-American honors from D1Baseball (2nd team) and Perfect Game/Rawlings (3rd team), as well as being named an American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-South Region (2nd team) selection.

Additionally, he was a First-Team All-Atlantic Sun Conference honoree and was named a semifinalist for the prestigious Golden Spikes Award, given to the nation’s top college baseball player.

The accomplished thrower has a three-pitch arsenal, which includes a 90-mph to-94-mph fastball, along with a curveball and changeup — which some draft experts say projects him as an end-of-the-rotation starter at the next level.

As a high school senior, German earned 3A All-State honors and helped guide Bishop McLaughlin to the State Final Four.

Jake Sims, right-handed pitcher/first baseman (San Diego Padres—31st round, 921st overall)
Hometown: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
College: Saint Leo University

Saint Leo first baseman/pitcher Jake Sims was selected in the 31st round by the San Diego Padres. He signed with the club on June 12. (Courtesy of Saint Leo Athletics)

Sims proved himself a capable two-way player for Saint Leo in his first and only season with the club, coming from Roane State Community College in Tennessee.

At the plate for the Lions, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Sims, who bats left-handed and throws right, hit .250 with 17 hits, nine runs scored, four doubles and four home runs. He also drove in 13 runs while finishing the 2018 season with a .485 slugging percentage and .354 on-base percentage.

Meanwhile on the mound, Sims held a 2.35 ERA in six appearances with 10 strikeouts and just four hits allowed. He allowed just two runs in his 7.2 innings of work.

Sims is the second Saint Leo player to be drafted by the Padres, joining Darrin Reichie, a fourth-round selection in 1987.

Zach Scott, second baseman (Seattle Mariners—32nd round, 958th overall)
Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona
College: Saint Leo University  

Saint Leo second baseman Zach Scott was selected in the 32nd round (958th overall) by the Seattle Mariners. He is now one of three former Saint Leo University players to get drafted by the Mariners, joining Daniel Torres (2013) and Taylor Perez (2015), all infielders. (Courtesy of Saint Leo Athletics)

The 6-foot, 185-pound Scott was a mainstay at second the past two seasons for Saint Leo after transferring from Colorado Christian University.

He wrapped up the 2018 campaign with a .312/.570/.385 slash line, recording 58 hits on the year with 12 doubles, six triples and eight home runs, while scoring 45 runs and driving in 42 RBI in all 49 games.

Defensively, Scott posted a .947 fielding percentage with 85 putouts and 131 assists while turning 27 double plays.

He’s now one of three former Lions to get drafted by the Mariners, joining Daniel Torres (2013) and Taylor Perez (2015), all infielders.

Austin Drury, left-handed pitcher (Los Angeles Dodgers- 34th round, 1034th overall)
Hometown: Land O’ Lakes/Wiregrass Ranch High School
College: University of North Florida

Austin Drury, a Land O’ Lakes native and Wiregrass Ranch High School product, was drafted as a pitcher in the 34th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was teammates with Frank German at the University of North Florida. (Courtesy of University of North Florida Athletics)

A former A-SUN All-Freshman and Freshman All-American, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound lefty had a slightly down showing in 2018, finishing with a 4-4 record in 13 starts with a 4.85 ERA, recording 58 strikeouts in 68.2 innings of work and holding opponent’s to a .258 batting average.

Yet, his past success and potential as a southpaw is likely what intrigued pro scouts to call his name late in the draft.

In 2017, as a sophomore, Drury went 6-2 with a 2.43 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 74.1 innings, holding opponents to a .231 batting average.

Should Drury sign with the Dodgers, he’ll achieve a rare designation as a third-generation professional baseball player. His uncle, Ronald Kelly, and grandfather, Roy Kelly, both played in the minors.

Prior to college, Drury was a four-year member of the Wiregrass Ranch High School baseball team. His senior year he earned First-Team All-Pasco honors as the Bulls’ top batter (.380) and pitcher (1.83 earned run average).

He was also teammates with his older brother, Zach, at both Wiregrass Ranch and North Florida.

Published June 20, 2018

Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Austin Drury, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, CJ Van Eyk, Frank German, Jake Sims, Josh Falk, Kankakee Community College, Kevin Merrell, Land O' Lakes, Los Angeles Dodgers, Lutz, Major League Baseball, MLB, Nate Pearson, New York Yankees, Patrick Morris, Paul Coumoulos, Philadelphia Phillies, Saint Leo University, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Steinbrenner High School, Sunlake High School, Sunshine State Conference, Tommy Mace, University of North Florida, Waylon Richardson, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zach Scott

Saint Leo baseball to retire jersey of its first MLB draftee

April 11, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Nearly 50 years have passed since Fred Cambria last sported a Saint Leo University baseball uniform, but his contributions to the program won’t be forgotten.

Cambria — the first Major League Baseball draftee in Saint Leo history— will have his No. 22 jersey retired by the school on April 14, prior to a Lions home game against Sunshine State Conference foe Rollins College at 1:30 p.m.

In a pregame ceremony, Saint Leo’s athletic department will unveil a sign saluting No. 22, which will hang on the outfield fence at Thomas B. Southard Stadium.

Fred Cambria was a standout pitcher for Saint Leo University from 1966 to 1969 for the then-Monarchs, under coaches Bill Meyer, Norm Kaye and Bob Sullivan. He became the school’s first Major League Baseball draftee after the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in the third round (58th overall) in the 1969 draft. (Courtesy of Saint Leo Athletics)

Cambria will throw out the first pitch surrounded by family, university administration, alumni and other special guests.

Cambria was a standout pitcher for Saint Leo from 1966 to 1969 for the then-Monarchs under coaches Bill Meyer, Norm Kaye and Bob Sullivan.

His skillset on the mound eventually caught the eye of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who selected him in the third round (58th overall) of the 1969 MLB Draft.

The former big leaguer was “overwhelmed” when he received a call a few weeks back from Saint Leo athletic director Fran Reidy about the plan to retire his jersey.

“It’s a great honor for me. It really is,” Cambria, now 70, said.

“There are no words to put into it because if it wasn’t for Saint Leo, I don’t know where I would be. It was a great fit for me…and it really was just perfect for me; couldn’t ask for anything more,” he said.

Cambria, at 6-foot-2, originally intended to play basketball at Saint Leo after enrolling from Queens, New York. However, he changed his mind after seeing a bulletin board posting for baseball fall tryouts.

“I don’t think I had a career in basketball, so I went with baseball, and it’s the best decision I ever made,” said Cambria.

“I thought the great opportunity was in baseball, and Mr. Kaye, who was the baseball coach at that time, also gave me a great opportunity to pitch, and things started to work out pretty well.”

Cambria also credits coach Meyer for his development as a ballplayer. Meyer, who also served as a baseball scout for a handful of MLB organizations, taught Cambria various nuances like locating inside, throwing sliders and altering pitch speeds.

Said Cambria, “He knew a lot about pitching and helped me tremendously on getting to the next level. That’s how I really matured on the mound, with Bill’s guidance.”

Among Cambria’s favorite memories in a Saint Leo uniform was a home game against Florida State University that was played at then-Mickens High School in Dade City.

Florida State, ranked No. 1 at the time, “came down to beat up on us a little bit,” Cambria said. But, he recalls leading Saint Leo to a 3-2 victory after racking up 18 strikeouts and hitting a home run, to boot.

“It was a lot of scouts in the stands to see Florida State, and I think they turned their attention a little bit to me on that one; that was pretty good,” Cambria said.

After he was drafted out of Saint Leo, Cambria went on to pitch for five seasons in the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees organizations, including for the 1970 National League champion Pirates.

At just 22, Cambria pitched six games for the Pirates, including five starts, posting a 1-2 record, and 3.51 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 33.1 innings.

A young player seemingly destined for a lengthy career, he was never the same after suffering a rotator cuff injury that season.

With few developments in treating sports injuries at the time, Cambria tried making a comeback. But, he toiled in the minors, and he was released twice in one year — out of baseball by age 25.

“I saw the writing on the wall,” Cambria said. “I was disappointed for about six months, ‘Why me?’ But, I tried to never think of it that way. It was a blessing in disguise.”

Though a hapless ending to what could’ve been, Cambria still savors the short time spent in the majors.

That included the opportunity to suit up with three of the game’s most recognizable names in the Pirates organization: Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell and Bill Mazeroski.

Said Cambria, “Its kind of rare today that a young feller, just coming up to the big leagues, played with three Hall of Famers. I think that’s what made the Pirates such a dynasty in the ‘70s, because they had great leadership because of those three guys. “Roberto Clemente was a great leader, a great ballplayer; and the same for Willie Stargell. They molded this team, they were respected, and it was great camaraderie. So that was a great feather in my cap, having those gentlemen teach me the game the right way and playing it the right way.”

After his playing career, Cambria spent the next decade-plus in the business world as an Izod salesman.

He returned to the game — and school — he loved, when he served as Saint Leo’s head baseball coach from 1990 to 1991. He compiled a 55-46 record in those two seasons.

Incidentally, the coaching opportunity arose following his 1987 induction into Saint Leo’s athletic hall of fame, where he reconnected with Kaye, the school’s athletic director at the time. Kaye later thought of Cambria when searching for a baseball coach in 1990.

“I enjoyed it very much. It was very interesting,” Cambria said of coaching at his alma mater. “I learned a lot about the game of baseball. Because you play, it doesn’t mean you know it, and how to teach kids and things like that.”

Cambria noted he was lucky to work alongside “a great assistant coach” in Frank Verdi for those two seasons. Verdi played in the New York Yankees organization in the ’40s and ’50s and later spent three decades managing for several Triple-A organizations recording over 1,300 wins.

Meanwhile, Cambria stayed closely tied to America’s pastime after his coaching stint ended at Saint Leo.

He served as a pitching coach for the San Diego Padres organization in the Arizona Fall Instructional League and the Australian Professional League.

He also became the commissioner of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League (ACBL) and was selected to its hall of fame. (Cambria played in the ACBL in the summer during his Saint Leo career and was the first player out of the ACBL to make it to the MLB).

More recently, Cambria in 2013 became the first-ever commissioner of the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League (HCBL), a summer baseball organization located in The Hamptons in New York.

Now retired, Cambria today lives in Northport, New York, staying busy with volunteer work in surrounding communities.

Cambria said he last visited Saint Leo about a year ago, as part of a seminar to guide student-athletes in career development and gaining employment after college.

“I was so amazed with the university and how it’s grown, and what a great campus it is,” Cambria said.

Published April 11, 2018

Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Arizona Fall Instructional League, Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, Australian Professional League, Bill Mazeroski, Bill Meyer, Bob Sullivan, Florida State University, Fran Reidy, Frank Verdi, Fred Cambria, Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League, Major League Baseball, Mickens High School, New York Yankees, Norm Kaye, Pittsburgh Pirates, Roberto Clemente, Saint Leo University, San Diego Padres, Sunshine State Conference, Willie Stargell

Eiland exits Kansas City Royals organization

October 11, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

Zephyrhills native Dave Eiland was let go as pitching coach of the Kansas City Royals after six seasons with the pro club. (Courtesy of MLB.com)

Dave Eiland, one of Zephyrhills’ most celebrated sports figures, was let go as pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals after six seasons with the major league ball club.

The move to not renew Eiland’s contract — first reported by the Kansas City Star on Oct. 2— was part of a greater staff shakeup as the club enters the offseason following an 80-82 season. The club also opted to part ways with three other coaches.

Eiland, who oversaw pitching staffs that helped the organization reach two World Series, was hired by manager Ned Yost after the 2011 season, making him the longest-tenured member of the Royals coaching staff.

But, Kansas City pitchers struggled under Eiland this past season, combining to post a 4.61 ERA, the sixth-worst mark in the American League.

Moreover, it was the fourth straight season the Royals’ ERA slipped. It was 4.21 in 2016, 3.73 in 2015, 3.51 in 2014 and 3.45 in 2013.

Still, some industry pundits believe Eiland, 51, soon will get another big league coaching opportunity, based on his past experience and reputation, and considering the Royals overall lack of front-line talent in the rotation to begin with.

Before the Royals gig, Eiland was the pitching coach for the New York Yankees (2008-2010), and served in an advisory role, as a special assistant for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011. Earlier in his career, he worked as a pitching coach in the minor leagues for several years in the Yankees organization.

Eiland, the son of the revered Zephyrhills police Chief Bill Eiland, graduated from Zephyrhills High School in 1984 as an all-everything athlete. In addition to baseball, Eiland stood out in football, basketball and golf.

He later went on to play baseball at the University of South Florida and was taken by the New York Yankees in the seventh round of the 1987 amateur draft.

That culminated in a decade long MLB career, which included two stints with Yankees (1988-1991 and 1995) as well as the San Diego Padres (1992-1993) and Tampa Bay Rays (1998-2000).

Published Oct. 11, 2017

Filed Under: Local Sports, Sports, Zephyrhills and East Pasco Sports Tagged With: Dave Eiland, Kansas City, Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Star, MLB, Ned Yost, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, University of South Florida, World Series, Zephyrhills, Zephyrhills High School, Zephyrhills Police

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04/21/2021 – Democratic Club

The Central Pasco Democratic Club will meet on April 21, via Zoom, to discuss voting rights and current legislative issues. Socializing starts at 6:30 p.m., followed by the meeting at 6:45 p.m. For information, email , or call 813-383-8315. … [Read More...] about 04/21/2021 – Democratic Club

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The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative will present “Strategies for Short-Term Financial Wellness” on April 21 at 6:30 p.m., for adults. Participants can learn tips and information for building emergency funds, managing debt and increasing cash flow. Registration is through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org. … [Read More...] about 04/21/2021 – Financial wellness

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The University Area CDC Partners Coalition’s second quarter meeting presentation will be available on the University Area CDC’s  YouTube channel starting April 22 at 9 a.m. Viewers can learn about programs and initiatives happening in the uptown/University area. The presentation includes “Community Investment/Uptown Sky”; a panel conversation in juvenile and criminal justice; and “Small Biz = Big Impact.” For information, visit UACDC.org. … [Read More...] about 04/22/2021 – Coalition meeting

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Live Oak Theatre will present an Improv Night on April 23 at 7:30 p.m., at the Carol & Frank Morsani Center, 21030 Cortez Blvd., in Brooksville. The family friendly event will feature the Conservatory’s Improv Troupe with games, skits and actor’s choices inspired by the audience. Doors open at 7 p.m. Seats are $10 per person in advance and $15 at the door. For information and tickets, visit LiveOakTheatre.org, call 352-593-0027, or email . … [Read More...] about 04/23/2021 – Improv Night

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Cindy’s Secret Place, 34953 Blanton Road in Dade City, will host a Butterfly Release on April 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the release at 1 p.m. (cost is $5). The event will include raffles, a plant sale, vendors and butterfly houses. Guests can bring chairs and blankets. For information, call 352-457-4030 or 352-424-4972. … [Read More...] about 04/24/2021 – Butterfly release

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