All-stars shine as young team struggles
KISSIMMEE — The Florida Fire Frogs are going through some growing pains during their debut season in Osceola County.
The Class A Advanced team for the Atlanta Braves is playing its first season in Kissimmee and is currently in last place in the Florida State League North Division with a 25-38 record at the halfway point of the season.
Manager Paul Runge admits the club’s first season in Kissimmee is a factor, but he said other challenges have led to the team’s record.
“I think there was definitely a transition that took place,” Runge said. “We had one of the youngest teams in the league to start off. Our schedule was an unbalanced schedule. I think there were some growing pains. Then when everything started coming together for us as a team, we had some guys get moved up to Double A and we also had some guys get hurt.”
The Fire Frogs’ starting catcher Alan Jackson, first baseman Carlos Castro and outfielder Braxton Davidson all missed games due to injury and illness.
Despite the rough start to the season, eight Fire Frogs earned spots on the Florida State League North Division All-Star team.
The all-star game will be played at 7:05 tonight at Lakeland’s Joker Marchant Stadium.
Pitchers Chase JohnsonMullins, Devan Watts and Drew Harrington, third baseman Austin Riley and outfielder Tyler Neslony along with Jackson, Castro and Davidson all were named to the team.
“It’s an honor to be a part of it,” Neslony said. “Getting out there to play with the best in the league makes you feel better about yourself knowing that you can play with the best. It’s even cooler that there are eight of us from this team out there. We know we have a good team and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
The players had to show they belonged on the allstar team and their own roster given the Fire Frogs’ record.
“If you don’t come to the field every day trying to prove yourself, there are 35 new guys that can come take your spot,” Nelsony said. “If you take a day off, that’s the day you might end up regretting and wish you had back. I just try to go out and get better each day.”
Playing to prove yourself comes with pressure, but it’s all about how you face it.
“There is always pressure, but the ones that really succeed are the ones that can take that pressure,” Harrington said. “Some guys are really good under pressure and some guys kind of wilt under pressure; it really comes down to if you can handle it or not.”
Although the team has struggled to win games, Runge has helped players develop.
Beyond the players named to the all-star roster, the team also has seen three players promoted to Double A. Pitchers Luiz Gohara and Tyler Pike along with outfielder Ronald Acuna all have been sent up to play for the Mississippi Braves.
“From a player development standpoint and from our organization’s standpoint, it’s been a wonderful first half,” Runge said. “There are a lot of good things going on here.”