With the third overall pick in the inaugural draft of the Adult Baseball League, the Seattle Sasquatch selected much-hyped slugger Steve Frend. The young right-fielder combines prodigious power with plate discipline and the ability to hit for a high average. He's only 23 years old, yet many scouts consider him already to be among the game's top players.
"We think he's baseball's best hitter, period," says Seattle GM Martín Abresch.
Abresch was surprised even to have the choice of drafting Frend. "We expected Gould and Frend to go 1-2," he said. While Las Vegas selected ace pitcher Maurice Gould with the first overall pick, Eureka used their second pick to draft 21-year old right-fielder Mike Bergeron. At that announcement, the Seattle delegation erupted in cheers. "We had fully planned on drafting Lorenzo Rodriguez—a fantastic hitter himself, mind you—but there's simply no substitute for the best." Rodriguez was drafted by Ann Arbor with the fourth pick.
For many ABL teams, the first round pick represented a huge decision on the direction of the ball club. On the one hand, draft an established star and play for an immediate championship. On the other hand, draft a highly rated prospect and lay the foundation for future success. Frend allowed Seattle the luxury of doing both at once.
Just the thought of such an offensive force playing for a Seattle baseball team brought a tear to the eye of more than one long-suffering Mariners fan. "I can't wait to see balls hit out of the infield again," said Darren Bell, "It's been so very, very long."
For his part, Frend looked forward to seeing his new Northwest home. "They tell me Seattle has great baseball fans and lots of rain," said Frend, "That suits me just fine. I ain't no fair-weather friend. I aim to give my all for the Seattle fans for many years, come rain, come shine."
Seattle business leaders agreed that the Frend would also be a boon to the city's pun manufacturing industry. That economic sector has been in a severe recession ever since the 2010 closing of The Lusty Lady, the downtown peepshow whose marquee featured such classic double entendres as "Where Every Miss is a Hit" and "We Takeoff More Than Boeing." Companies are already lining up to sign Frend as a spokesman. As one punster pointed out, "While we're busy trying to friend people on Facebook, they're busy trying to book Frend's face."
No comments:
Post a Comment