Losing his season in 2007 after sustaining a right knee sprain, Jordan Abruzzo knew he had to come back strong in 2008. Hitting .296 with seven homers, 38 RBI and 84 hits in 77 games between the St. Lucie Mets, Savannah Sand Gnats and Brooklyn Cyclones this season, the 13th round pick in 2007 has done just that.

Hitting over .300 between St. Lucie and Savannah, Abruzzo was sent to Brooklyn to bolster a catching situation that despite it’s proficiency behind the plate, wasn’t producing offensively.

After spending last season between Kingsport and Brooklyn before his injury, Abruzzo is no stranger to the high-octane atmosphere in Keyspan Park either and is happy he’s back.

“I feel great and I know the team is on the right track,” Abruzzo said. “There are a lot of changes being made, but I think we’re really close to finding our identity. I really like the mix of guys we have here and I think we’re ready to go on a roll.”

Originally brought to Brooklyn last season to allow slugger Jason Jacobs to make the transition to first base, Abruzzo lasted only four games and 16 at bats before getting injured. Despite his short tenure in Brooklyn however, he quickly won over the coaching staff with his poise at the plate and ability managing a pitching staff.

They, like Abruzzo, are happy he’s back as well.

“He was hitting well in Savannah and St. Lucie,” Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo said. “I see him as a leader here and he can hit. He’s also great with pitchers. I think his personality fits this team very well. I can already see a difference in our game since he got here.”

In a high-pressure situation like Brooklyn, Abruzzo knows that he has to be on top of his game.

While some young ballplayers would rather focus on their development in the second year of their professional careers, Abruzzo is looking forward to the challenge of expecting to win in Brooklyn.

“They told me to just come here and help the team win,” said Abruzzo on July 14. “It works because that’s my mentality every time I hit the field anyway. I’ve been here for three days and I’ve caught all three so I’m guessing they want me out there everyday. With that, I’m going to focus on the pitching staff first and then hit and help this team drive in runs. They’ve got me in the middle of the order and I know we have to win here, so I know what the expectations are. It should be fun.”

With the team middling around .500 this season, Abruzzo knows the team is in desperate need of a jolt offensively. The way he’s played this season in his other stops in the organization, the 23-year-old feels he can be a positive influence on the club and help them get back on track.

“Playing long season professional baseball, there are a lot of ups and downs,” he said of his time with Savannah and St. Lucie this season. “You can’t really worry about things, you just have to take things as they come. I was doing that in St. Lucie and I was having a good season and we were in first place. I just want to try and do the same thing here. We have some proven winners here and I think we’re going to be solid.”

Link:

Box Score to last night’s Cyclones 5-4 loss

Photos by Patrick Hickey J. and Ron Hatcher.