Four Tortugas pleased to earn honors
DAYTONA BEACH — Four Daytona Tortugas are pleased they earned all-star recognition, taking it as a sign they are moving in the right direction.
Third baseman Nick Senzel, second baseman Shed Long, catcher Chris Okey and pitcher Tanner Rainey will represent Daytona at the Florida State League AllStar Game today at Lakeland’s Joker Marchant Stadium. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.
“It’s pretty cool being able to make the team,” Okey said. “I’m one of those guys who wants to excel and be very productive.”
The recognition is a boost for players vying to move up from the Class A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.
“I think I can get better at all phases of the game right now,” Okey said. “I feel like my defense has been pretty good but my offense has been kind of up and down.”
Manager Eli Marrero said even though Okey has come a long way, one of the reasons it took time to progress was because of the path the former standout from Clemson took to pro baseball.
“In college they’re looking in for the coach to tell them exactly what to do or what’s going to happen,” Marrero said. “That doesn’t happen here in pro ball. It takes too long. If you’re not ahead of the game thinking, then there is no way you’re going to slow the game down enough to perform.”
Marrero lauded Okey for working to make the adjustment to the pro ranks.
“[Okey] has done well,” Marrero said. “He’s taking more control of the game and taking charge of more like talking to the pitcher
KISSIMMEE FIRE FROGS when he sees something come up. That’s exactly what I want to see out of him.”
The catcher spent three seasons at Clemson and was selected 43rd overall in the 2016 MLB draft.
Senzel and Rainey also spent three years in college before being drafted.
Marrero noted that despite University of Tennessee alumnus Senzel being a top MLB prospect, he had to work to get acclimated to pro expectations.
“He is making adjustments and that’s what you want to see from the player that he is,” Marrero said. “It’s giving him success and now he’s having fun playing the game.”
Rainey, a former pitcher from the University of West Alabama, has a strong arm and had to focus on refining his command on the mound.
“[Rainey] has a 97, 98, 99 with a great slider,” Marrero said. “He’s probably got the best stuff in the league. He’s had success so far.”
The only Daytona all-star to forgo college and enter the MLB draft out of high school was Long. Despite his youth, he is confident and eager to help the Tortugas (32-29), currently in third place in the Florida State League North.
“One thing I take pride in is being a leader,” Long said. “Even to the guys that are older than me, age doesn’t really matter.”
He is second on the team in home runs with 11 and second in batting average at .309.
“Long has been our most consistent guy offensively,” Marrero said. “He’s been excellent for us. He’s still learning how to play second base, but to have him at the top of the lineup has been a big boost for us.”