Hitting .270 going to into the second half of the season, Sam Honeck was a New York Penn League All-Star, but hit a disastrous .176 after the break.

Clones outfielder Luis Rivera had 66 hits in as many games and amassed an uber solid OBP of .402.

In spite of only playing in 49 games this season, outfielder John Servidio shared the team lead in homers with Nick Santomauro with six. Santomauro only played in 45 games.

In spite of setting a new team record with 17 saves this season, Clones Clones Mike Powers have up eight earned runs in his last ten outings.

An All-Ivy player during all three seasons he played at Dartmouth, Santomauro hit .372 with eight home runs, 40 RBI and 13 doubles this season, while ranking among the league’s top 10 in eight separate offensive categories to earn the Player of the Year award.

“It’s exciting,” he said while in the Cyclones dugout before the game. “I told my parents not to come tonight because I haven’t been activated yet. I can’t wait to get started.”

Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.

A fan favorite due to his hard-nosed work ethic and mega-watt smile, the 23-year-old is looking forward to getting an opportunity to show what he can do in a starting role, something he lost last season after the Cyclones brought in Sean Ratliff and Seth Williams to add depth to the outfield.

“I’m looking to set personal highs, be consistent and injury free,” he said. “I’ve never got a ring before either, so that’s another goal.”

Getting plenty of ABs in Extended Spring Training this season, Cyclones manager Pedro Lopez has liked what he’s seen so far from the Barry University-alumnus as well and plans to use him in a variety of roles.

“He’s a big part of our team,” said Lopez, who also mentioned that he likes Servidio in the lead-off spot due to his versatility. “He did a great job through extended Spring Training with us.”

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Ike Davis- .270 BA, 15 HR and 75 RBI combined with Savannah and St. Lucie. Contrary to what many think, I don’t see Davis making his major league debut until sometime in 2010, most likely in August or September. His swing still has a few kinks in it and I think spending some time in A-Ball before heading up to High-A will help him address those concerns. When I spoke to Savannah manager Edgar Alfonzo after the instructional leagues were over this past Fall, he believed Davis had come a long way. Rather than push him through the system quickly, I think the Mets, who still have Carlos Delgado at first, will make sure Davis matures into the extra base hitter and slick fielder he’s supposed to be. I see that process beginning this season.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis- .300, six HR, 60 RBI, 30 SB with St. Lucie. Notice the higher batting average than last season? That’s because Nieuwenhuis has the tools to be an excellent professional outfielder and I believe this is the season that he begins to show it. If he can cut down on his strikeout totals from last season as well, he’ll be able to produce even more and may even warrant a call up to Double-A.

Josh Satin- .285 18 HR 59 RBI with Savannah. Eventually showing the tools of a solid second baseman last season, I think Satin would have shown a lot more if the Cyclones made the playoffs. Patient at the plate with a great approach, Satin will make a full-season team out of Spring training and begin to show some promise.

Jordan Abruzzo- .295 14 HR 55 RBI with St. Lucie and B-Mets. Not only is Abruzzo a great catcher that has the skills and attitude to manage a pitching staff at any level of professional baseball, he’s an extremely clutch hitter. While he’d secure himself a spot in Double-A right now if he could hit for more power, I think that after about 30 games this season, you’ll see him in Binghamton where he’ll earn his stripes and show why the fans at Brooklyn loved him so much. Good defensive catchers that can switch hit for power don’t grow on trees and Abruzzo can do it all. This will be the season, unless injuries slow him down, that he shows what he is truly capable of.

Photo by Ron Hatcher.

Simply put, Alfonzo looked like he needed a break.

Nevertheless, as soon as the season was over, Fonzie was out coaching the very same players he spent the summer with, at the team’s instructional leagues, doing whatever he had to in order to help them climb up the proverbial food chain in the Mets organization.

You see, dedication and maintaining a top-notch work ethic are things that Alfonzo takes very seriously.

So despite the fact that he probably was in the need of a shave of a Red Bull, Alfonzo went to instructional league and ended up enjoying himself.

“These guys are working very hard and are learning a lot,” Alfonzo, who has served at several different positions in the organization over the past decade, said via telephone in . “I’ve had a lot of fun with them here. Guys like [Cyclones outfielder] Sean Ratliff and [Cyclones first baseman] Ike Davis have shown me a lot. They are absorbing all the information and are playing very well.”

A few months later, Alfonzo’s name still appears on the team’s website as the team’s skipper, but unlike previous years, where announcements were made at this time in the season, the team has yet to make a decision on who will be behind the bench.

In spite of how last season ended, with the team missing the playoffs for the first time in three seasons and the first time with Alfonzo at the helm, Fonzie was rewarded for his time and energy and was appointed as the head coach of the Savannah Sand Gnats a week and a half ago.

That doesn’t mean he didn’t enjoy himself in Brooklyn though.

“Aside from the big leagues, Brooklyn is the best place to manage in the Mets organization,” said Alfonzo. “I don’t know what the organizations plans are for me next season, but I know that I’ve really enjoyed my time there.”

However, with Alfonzo now in Savannah, who will manage the Cyclones?

Many fans feel that Donovan Mitchell, former Cyclones coach and lifetime .275 hitter over 780 minor league games is the front runner. Coaching at Savannah last season and Kingsport in ’06 and ’07, Mitchell definitely has the charisma and resume to coach in Brooklyn.

The only question is, will he?

Doc Doyle- With Jason Jacobs and Jordan Abruzzo being the guys behind the plate to lead the team in the locker room and on the field the past few years, a guy like Doyle [who's timid nature doesn't give his hard-working attitude on the field it's due] is a bit of a weird choice as the starting catcher in Brooklyn next season. Nevertheless, his offensive prowess and business-first attitude make him someone that can and will flourish in Brooklyn if given an opportunity. A .300 hitter in Kingsport, Doyle can reproduce those numbers in Keyspan.

Kyle Suire- Spending a cup of coffee in Brooklyn last season, Suire was nursing a sore hamstring and was never capable of showing the league what he was truly capable of. A more than solid hitter, I see Suire as a dependable six hitter and someone that will not hurt the team on the field. Not an amazing fielder, Suire does have good range and a capable arm, but makes the plays he has to, very similar to one of my favorite second baseman’s in Cyclones history, Jon Schemmel. If Wilmer Flores starts the season in Brooklyn like many expect him to, the Cyclones will have a middle infield that can hit and play the field with anyone in the NY-Penn League.

Mike Powers- Leading the K-Mets in saves last season, Powers, who was close to a strikeout an inning in 21 frames of work, may be one of the only players from Kingsport’s bullpen to be a real member of the Brooklyn staff next season.

Jonathan Sanchez- The former Cyclones outfielder had a solid season with the GC Mets last season and may make his return as a middle reliever. If that is the case, you can expect a few stories on his progress throughout the season. Extremely confident in his first go round with Brooklyn despite sub-par numbers, it’s be interesting to see how the tides of time have changed the youngster.

Stefan Welch- Aside from Suire and Flores, Welch was one of the K-Mets best hitters. Able to play both corner infield positions and the outfield should make him one of Edgar Alfonzo’s favorite players and should give him the type of versatility that put former Cyclone Eric Campbell in the lineup so much last season. Should be an interesting guy to watch.

Photo by Jim Dolan.

After his first few games with the team that season, I remember the Brooklyn Papers had a story in there, where a then 17-year-old intern Nick Pauly, who’s now a good friend of mine and a damn good writer, was interning for a local paper and wrote a piece about how Gamero, as a part of his pre-at-bat ritual, wrote in the batter’s box before every at bat. Happy with the piece, Pauly then sent the article to his editor, who tinkered with it and changed the kicker, or the last few lines of the piece. What was originally a feel-good story about the struggling outfielder was morphed into some opinionated drivel about how Gamero should be writing his batting average, which was .143 at the time, in the batter’s box instead.

While Gamero never saw the piece and there was real no negative outburst from it, the piece did speak to the hearts of certain fans who wanted the guy to produce and were sick of his underachieving, which was going on for nearly a year and a half. So with that being said, expect how those fans felt when he was called back to help the team make the playoffs that season.

However, after hitting over .400 the final week of the season, Gamero became a cult hero and almost single-handedly powered the Cyclones offense over Joshua Paplebon and the Lowell Spinners. I can still remember the look on his face after a few of those games. It was almost like he finally started to understand what he had to do at the plate in order to be succesful. It was almost like you were seeing a player come into his own right before your very eyes.

Unfortunately, Gamero disappeared after that season and I haven’t heard any news about him after that. Finishing the ’06 season as strong as he did, it would have been interesting to see where he could have ended up.

Nevertheless, he’ll always remain in the team’s history as a player that for one magical week in September, shined brighter than ever before and fueled an unlikely playoff birth.

Photo by Conroy Walker.

Grade- B-

Will Vogl- Before being released in July, Vogl was serving as the team’s fifth outfielder and despite not getting much playing time, was solid on defense and produced at the plate when he had to. Getting on in years, the former St. John’s star lost his starting spot and never seemed to recover from a late August slump in 2007. A good clubhouse guy and a hard-nosed player, Vogl may be able to catch on somewhere else if he can bounce back.

Grade- D

Sean Ratliff- The team’s right fielder for most of the season, Ratliff moved to center field and showed he had the range, speed and arm to be a great outfielder at any level he plays at. Nonetheless, great defense all season long is one thing, but a ton of strikeouts hurt his overall stock. He did develop some power as the season went along however, which was definitely encouraging, but he still has a long way to go offensively before he can be a legitimate blue-chip prospect.

Grade- C+

John Servidio- Leading the team in RBI most of the season, Servidio was a leader in the locker room and on the field. That doesn’t mean his play was exemplary however, as his play at the plate was mediocre. In spite of that though, his defense was extremely solid and combined with Ratliff and Nieuwenhuis, gave the Cyclones one of the best defensive outfields in the NY-Penn League. However, a hand injury ended his season prematurely, limiting his offensive production.

Grade- C+

Kirk Nieuwenhuis- Easily the Clones best offensive player, Nieuwenhuis was also something to behold on defense as well, making spectacular plays at both center and right field. Offensively consistent most of the season, Nieuwenhuis really started to come into his own after the all-star break and there it was he solidified his role as a catalyst at the plate and someone the tam could really depend on. His strikeout totals were a bit alarming, but considering the fact that he tied the team’s single season record with 79 hits, you’d be out of your mind to ask for any more from the youngster.

Grade- A

Photos by Ron Hatcher.

With Kirk Nieuwenhuis, their best hitter all season at the plate in the bottom of the tenth, an absolute bomb off the third round pick’s bat was torn from the sky courtesy of Hurricane Hanna-inspired winds, right into Aberdeen outfielder Jacob Julius’s glove in right center field.

Seconds later, the last Fireworks show of the summer at Coney Island started, symbolizing a beautiful season that in the end, just wasn’t meant to be.

A half inning afterwards, an error from closer Yury Santana opened the door for a two-run Aberdeen 11th, effectively euthanizing the Cyclones 2008 playoff hopes.

“I’m sad, but I’m happy,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo. “Everyone got better this year and when you are 15 games over .500, it’s a successful season regardless.”

The Cyclones got on the board in the first after an Eric Campbell sacrifice fly scored Nieuwenhuis and gave them a 1-0 lead. The Mets Single-A affiliate continued to produce in the second as well after a Josh Satin single scored Seth Williams and a Jose Jimenez sacrifice fly [his second RBI since the All-Star break] scored Satin, putting Brooklyn up 3-0.

With an early three-run lead, Cyclones starter Scott Shaw was solid and despite some control problems in the third, kept Aberdeen scoreless and the lead intact. In the fourth however, Ironbirds third baseman Tyler Kolodny brought the shutout bid to end with an RBI single. A passed ball and a sacrifice fly later in the inning allowed two more runs to score, tying the game at 3-3.

Reliever Wendy Rosa replaced Shaw in the fifth and pitched 1.2 innings of shutout ball before walking a pair of hitters. Mattias Carrillo then came out of the Brooklyn bullpen and got the final out of the inning and pitched two shutout innings before leaving in favor of Jeff Kaplan with two outs in the top of the eighth. Getting the final out of the inning, Kaplan kept the score at 3-3 going into the ninth.

The Brooklyn offense could not come through in the bottom of the ninth however, sending the game into extra innings.

Kaplan’s night then came to an end in the tenth, as he lasted only one out into the inning after allowing a walk to Calvin Lester and a sacrifice bunt. Alfonzo was then forced to bring in Santana and things got interesting after that, as Lester stole third with only one out. Santana was on his game though, retiring both hitters he faced to keeping the game tied going into the 11th.

Santana was again on the mound after Brooklyn after the Baby Bums couldn’t produce at the plate in the tenth. This time however, the 26-year-old wasn’t as sharp and committed an error on a routine dribbler down the first base line, which opened the door for a TJ Baxter RBI single later in the inning that put Aberdeen ahead 4-3. Santana then walked the next hitter he faced and was replaced by Roy Merritt with the bases loaded. Despite striking out the first hitter he faced, Merritt soon ran into trouble of his own, walking home a run before ending the inning with the Ironbirds up 5-3.

Continuing to have problems against Aberdeen pitching, Brooklyn couldn’t get back in the ballgame, as catcher Caesar Cordido grounded into a double play after a lead-off walk in the bottom of 11th. Pinch-hitter Sean Ratliff was then retired on strikes to end the game 5-3.

With the loss, the Cyclones are eliminated for post-season play and will not make the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.

“It disappointing,” said Nieuwenhuis. “But we all worked hard this season and we played great baseball down the stretch.”

Notes-

Winning 13 of their last 16 before Friday night’s game, Brooklyn’s offense mustered only eight hits on the night.

With his 79th hit tonight, Nieuwenhuis tied the Cyclones single-season hit record with Dustin Martin and Ambiorix Concepcion.

“I had no idea,” he said. “I would have liked to get one or to more today, but the wind got them.”

Nieuwenhuis also tied the Cyclones single-season record for most games played, set by Ian Bladergroen in 2003.

Even if Brooklyn would have won on Friday, things would have remained tricky in assessing their playoff hopes. Because of the remnants of Hurricane Hanna, which has already begun to hit Brooklyn, the Cyclones may not have been able to play today’s game. Then, if Batavia would have won their season finale today and Brooklyn was unable to play due to the weather, Batavia would have made the playoffs as the wild card due to a higher win percentage. However, if Brooklyn didn’t play and either Batavia or Jamestown lost, Brooklyn would have made the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Update: 1:30 P.M.

Today’s season finale has been canceled.

Photos by Ron Hatcher.

After seven years in the sport, six of those with the Mets organization, Malek was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers and seemed out of options.

That’s until the Mets called and gave the 27-year-old’s career a second life.

A lifetime .262 hitter through 2,286 at bats at the minor league level, Malek was far from a superstar, but was a hard-working and gritty player that never gave up on the field. Because of that desire and perseverance on the field, the Mets gave him an opportunity to help coach their affiliate in the Gulf Coast League.

“I think because of the way I handled myself on the field when I was playing, they asked me if I wanted to come back as a coach,” said Malek, who had only 57 at bats in 28 games this season with the Dodgers Double-A affiliate before rejoining the Mets organization. “I did the right thing off the field and I played the game the way it should be played. I think that’s why they called me. Before that, I didn’t even consider getting into coaching.”

With Cyclones hitting coach Guadalupe Jabalera tending to personal matters last week, an opening at Brooklyn sent Malek back to the team he started his professional career with in 2002, making him the first former player in the team’s short history to ever coach in Brooklyn. While he only played 28 games with the Baby Bums that season, the lore behind his arm in right field is one of legend. Despite only spending a week with the team before heading back to the Gulf Coast, Malek has been a positive influence on them.

Seen spending time with Cyclones outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who was on top of his defensive game while Malek was with the team, making several solid catches, it’s obvious he’s gotten through to the players.

“I knew how to play the game right and I was smart,” Malek, who had his best season in the minor leagues in 2004 when he hit 13 home runs and 58 RBI with St. Lucie, said. “I feel like I got the most out of my ability and I had some great coaches. I feel like I could have played in the big leagues defensively with my arm and because of that, I have a lot of knowledge to share with these guys.”

Quickly making the transition from player to hot-shot coaching prospect, Malek is focused on becoming the best coach he can be.

If the reputation he had on the field during his career is any indication, he’ll be just fine.

“I had a really good player career; it was an enjoyable seven years,” he said. “I put my blood, sweat and tears into getting to the big leagues, but it just didn’t happen. I feel like if I looked myself in the mirror now, I know that I gave it everything I had. Considering that, I thought it was time to move on. Now, I’m looking forward to making it to the big leagues one day as a coach. I know this is a learning experience, but I feel like I’ve gotten off to a good start.”

Link:

Box Score to last night’s 9-1 Cyclones win.

Update- 5:36 p.m.

Juan Lagares will be starting tonight’s game in place of injured the Matt Smith, who was ironically taking the place of an injured Reese Havens.

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr., Jim Dolan and Ron Hatcher.

DemBrooklynBums.com: Most of the fans at Keyspan Park haven’t seen much of you this season. Knowing that, can you tell us a little about your game?

Seth Williams: Well, I’m a good defensive outfielder that has a big passion and love for this game. I’m not a real power hitter, more of a gap hitter with above average speed who likes to put the ball into play. I also love to win and I work real hard. In this kind of environment though, it’s not hard to get pumped up for a game. I’m loving it here. It’s really nice.

DBB: What’s so different about Brooklyn when compared to Kingsport?

Williams: When you think Minor Leagues, you think of really old stadiums with no one there. Kingsport is in the middle of nowhere and you get maybe a couple of hundred fans a night. You come here and it’s like the biggest stages and you have a lot of support. It helps a lot. In Kingsport, it’s harder to get locked in because there’s no nobody there. Here, there’s so much fan support and that makes it so much easier.

DBB: You said you pride yourself on being a good defensive outfielder. Is there someone at the Major League level that you try and emulate on the field?

Williams: That’s a tough question, but I’d have to say someone like Torii Hunter, who gives his all out there every night and isn’t scared of the fences and never gives up on the ball.

DBB: So you’re not scared of running into the wall for a ball either ?

Williams: No, but I’m happy it’s padded. That’s definitely a plus.

DBB: This outfield is kind of crowded now with guys like yourself and John Servidio playing reserve roles while Eric Campbell plays left field and Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Sean Ratliff sharing right field and center field duties. Where do you see yourself fitting in?

Williams: I was up here earlier in the season and I really liked it; I thought I fit in well here. I know I have to hit more though and I know I can. I’m just really enjoying the experience. I’m really happy to be here and looking to get a few more rips at the plate.

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr. and Ron Hatcher

By the way guys, I sincerely apologize for posting two Q & A’s in a row, but just like the Mets Single-A Affiliate I write about everyday, I needed a break too!

Their bullpen somehow failed to receive the message however as another solid pitching performance by Jenry Mejia and timely hitting were wasted in an ugly three-error, four-run seventh inning that resulted in a 9-4 Staten Island win.

“We didn’t play that bad until the seventh inning,” said outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis. “Then we made mistakes and the Yankees took advantage.”

Staten Island got on the board first, courtesy of a Brian Baisley RBI ground out in the opening frame, but starter Mejia [2-1, 4.30 ERA] limited the damage and kept it a 1-0 ball game after striking out Marcos Vechionacci to end the inning. Brooklyn carried that momentum into the bottom half of the first and quickly tied the game on a Nieuwenhuis lead-off triple and an RBI ground out of their own from JR Voyles.

Mitch Abeita wasn’t too fond of the Brooklyn comeback attempt however and nailed a solo-homer over the left field wall in the second that gave the Yankees their one-run lead back. Staten Island spot starter Andrew Shive then rebounded after a sloppy first and managed to hurl 3 2/3 scoreless innings on 57 pitches before being replaced by Drew Shetrone with runners on first and second with two outs. The Mets Single-A affiliate couldn’t get back in the game though, as Caesar Cordido was retired on strikes to end the inning and keep the game at 2-1 through the fourth.

The Clones didn’t waste another opportunity in the fifth though, as Eric Campbell doubled home Nieuwenhuis, who reached base on a walk, tying the game. The next hitter, Ike Davis, then hit an RBI ground out that gave Brooklyn a 3-2 lead.

Things continued to go the Baby Bum’s way in the sixth as Mejia settled down and kept the Yanks scoreless and kept the game deadlocked at 3-2.

“I felt great out there today,” Mejia said through a translator. “In my earlier starts, I wasn’t as comfortable and I felt hitters were waiting on my pitches. It felt like they knew what I was going to throw. I’m comfortable out there now.”

Brooklyn then replaced Mejia with lefty side-armer Roy Merritt, who had an even bigger cushion to work with after a Nieuwenhuis RBI double in the top of the sixth gave the ‘Clones a 4-2 lead.

Uncharacteristically erratic, Merritt, who threw a wild pitch and committed a throwing error on a failed pickoff attempt, wasn’t helped either by two errors by his teammates in the inning, one of which allowed Jahdiel Santamaria to score and made it one-run ballgame.

Lasting only two out into the seventh, Merritt was replaced by Erik Turgeon, who couldn’t get the Clones out of trouble either, giving up a Vechionacci RBI double that tied the score. Things continued to get worse for Turgeon, who left the game in favor of Wendy Rosa after Jack Rye added an RBI single that gave the Yankees a 5-4 lead.

“That’s when it all started to fall apart,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo. “Merritt was throwing outside and was staying away from contact. It wasn’t any of their faults though. Our last few starters went short and I’ve been using them a lot.”

Rosa, like Merritt and Turgeon wasn’t his usual self, as Dan Brewer enjoyed the same success as Rye, slapping an RBI single that gave the Yankees a two-run lead.

Losing their lead and most of the 8,667 fans in attendance after Josue Selenes shut them down in the seventh and eighth, Brooklyn looked demoralized and exhausted. Staten Island continued to feast on Brooklyn’s bullpen however, scoring three runs in the ninth off reliever Jim Fuller on a Steven Strausbaugh RBI single and a Santamaria sacrifice fly, which gave them a five-run lead.

Still unable to mount a comeback over the final inning, Brooklyn went down without a fight against Staten Island reliever Nick Asselin, resulting in an ugly 9-4 loss.

Now three-games back of the Yankees with no games left between them this season, the Clones know they’ll have their work cut out for them if they want to catch their cross-bridge rivals for first place in the McNamara Division this season.

“The bullpen is usually great,” said Mejia. “But it’s not going to be that way everyday.”

Notes-

Despite the loss, Brooklyn is 11-4 in their past 15 games.

Cyclones first baseman Jason Jacobs was sent to St. Lucie following the game.

According to manager Edgar Alfonzo, Clones reliever Yury Santana suffered a strained muscle in his throwing arm on Sunday in Staten Island and his current status is unknown.

Video-

Caesar Cordido strikes out in the fourth.

[youtube aabKViONEB4]
Photos by Ron Hatcher. Video by Patrick Hickey Jr.

At 6’2, 195 pounds, he already has the physical makeup of a future major leaguer, but it’s his patience at the plate and intensity in the outfield that may eventually send him there one day.

Watching him play, with his eyes steadily focused at the plate, or running full boar in the outfield, you’d expect him to be just as high energy off the field.

Right?

However, soft-spoken and unassuming, Nieuwenhuis is quietly carving up a solid season for himself, hitting .263 with 10 RBI, 17 walks and three stolen bases in 38 games.

“I’m definitely more laid back,” Nieuwenhuis said in comparison to some of the other players in Brooklyn this season. “We have a lot of high-energy guys here and they’re all good guys. They’re a lot of fun to play with. I’m a little bit more reserved and my personality is a little more quiet and calm. On the field though, I try and bring as much intensity and focus as possible.”

Despite not being a vocal leader in the clubhouse, the well-manned Nieuwenhuis lets his game do the talking. Leading the team in games played this season, the workhorse has had plenty of opportunities on the field to show the fans at Keyspan Park and his teammates how capable he is.

He hasn’t let them down yet.

“I try and set the bar as high as I can,” said Nieuwenhuis. “Fortunately, I’ve had a chance to show what I’m capable of and I’ve been injury free. I think that’s playing a big role in how I’ve played this season. I’ve had time to hit the weight room and I’ve kept myself in good shape.”

Beginning to heat up at the plate and in the outfield after a mediocre start, Nieuwenhuis sees himself producing even more as the season goes on.

“I’m finally starting to get comfortable offensively,” he said. “Right now, I’m just trying to hit the ball hard every at bat and taking it one pitch at a time. Defensively, it’s pretty much the same thing because I’ve only played outfield for a couple of years. In High School, I played the first and second, but I was getting too big for second and too quick for first. I tried the outfield and it’s worked for me. ”

With the team starting to come around after a weak start as well, it seems like the Clones are in fact mirroring the season of Nieuwenhuis.

If the 20-year-old has his way, he and Brooklyn’s best games this season haven’t been played yet.

“I think as long as we continue to work hard and pace ourselves, we’ll be fine,” he said. “I’m looking forward to playing down the stretch with these guys.”

Link:

Box Score to Last Night’s 5-2 Brooklyn Win.

New Podcast!

Click Here to Listen!

Photos by Ron Hatcher.