Young Panther Keegan Marsden gets some pro looks while hitting .471
KITCHENER — The Guelph Royals’ loss has been the Kitchener Panthers’ gain when it comes to Keegan Marsden.
Marsden, a Stratford native playing his first season with Kitchener, was named the Intercounty Baseball League’s Batter of the Week — continuing his red-hot start to the season.
Heading into Thursday’s game, he was hitting .471, with 10 RBI in just 17 at-bats. The Panthers, who lost sluggers Sean Reilly and Justin Interisano to Guelph in the off-season, got back a powerful left-handed batter coming off a standout college career in an unofficial swap with the Royals.
Marsden, who led his Goldey-Beacom College team in Delaware in slugging percentage (.503) while hitting for a .307 average, has been drawing some looks from major league scouts ahead of the June amateur draft.
Kitchener’s Jonder Martinez, meanwhile, was named the IBL’s Pitcher of the Week after an impressive debut last Sunday. The Cuban import pitched seven shutout innings with only three hits, while striking out six and walking no one.
Marsden, who played for the Royals in 2016, has evolved into a more disciplined hitter over four years of U.S. college baseball. He looks more than comfortable hitting against the harder-throwing, more polished pitchers of the IBL.
“I’ve had to adjust a bit. But I’m trying to stay within myself, and know what pitch you can handle,” he said. “It’s all about staying on my pitch, instead of going out and chasing that pitch the pitcher wants me to chase.”
Marsden came to Kitchener knowing the team needed to replace some of those big at-bats that Reilly and Interisano were taking to Guelph. He’s carried the momentum from his college season and kept on hitting in the independent league.
“I’m just trying to fill-in those shoes and be one of those RBI guys. So far, I’ve had some success,” he said. “Because of the college season I’ve been playing since February, so I think that helps a little bit.”
His former team, meanwhile, is making its return to Hastings Stadium in Guelph this weekend after folding halfway through last season.
The Royals, revived by Kitchener businessman Shawn Fuller, will feature some notable ex-Panthers, as well as former manager Dave teBoekhorst.
They’ll also feature five players from the Dominican Republic, signed during a scouting trip this winter.
While the pay for imports isn’t great — players only pocket about $1,500 a month — the five Dominicans may be chasing something else: A chance to catch the eye of a major league team.
Fellow Dominican Claudio Custodio, the Barrie Baycats’ former ace, has done just that.
The righty who chewed up Panthers hitters for the past three seasons — a 2.29 ERA, while striking out 80 batters and walking only 16 over 55 innings — was signed by the Blue Jays this spring and was promoted this week to single-A Lansing.
The Panthers play next on Sunday, when they host Burlington at 2 p.m. at Jack Couch Park.
Marsden, who played for the Royals in 2016, has evolved into a more disciplined hitter over four years of U.S. college baseball.