Zunica a force to be reckoned with for the Valleycats
TROY, NY >> When the Tri-City Valleycats got off to a bad start to their 2021 season and manager Pete Incaviglia had to reinvent the roster. Brad Zunica was one of those players that he brought in.
After his release from the San Diego Padres organization in June, Incaviglia jumped at the opportunity to sign Zunica and now after forty games, the move is paying off.
“Your eyes aren’t lying, he’s pretty good. I think he’s a major leaguer in the making, if you’re asking me,” Incaviglia said of Zunica. “I just think he’s that good. He’s a big man who has a very good approach, a good, short swing. He’s not an all or nothing guy. He hits the ball the other way, takes what the pitcher gives him.”
Zunica stands at 6’6 and has seen time at first base and designated hitter, often rotat
ing spots with Zach Biermann.
“I mean, it’s very comforting to play for a manager who believes in his players as much as Pete does,” Zunica added. “I can’t go day-to-day thinking about that stuff though because it would negatively affect me. I’m a big believer in what’s meant to be, will be and so we’ll see what happens.”
Zunica attended State College of Florida and was drafted by the Padres in the 15th round of the 2015 MLB Draft. He had posted a .167 average in 54 at-bats with AA San Antonio Missions at the time of his release.
His time in Troy didn’t exactly begin how he’d have hoped, with a stint on the injured list after playing in just one game. The injury was the result of a collision at first base on a tag play where he sprained his thumb. He played his first game on June 20 and his second game on July 1. Since, he is now flirting with a near .400 batting average over 124 at-bats.
Incaviglia has been wondering how much longer he’s going to have Zunica before he rejoins an affiliated club. He currently has a .395 average (49-for-124), eight doubles, eight home runs, 24 RBI, 19 walks and a .483 OBP.
“I think it all evens out along the way. There’s some that are taken away and some that are given, but when you’re feeling good in the box and things start to go your way, home runs are going to come in bunches,” Zunica said.
“To me, he’s a fantastic hitter and I’m completely shocked that he’s still here,” Incaviglia added. “It’s always a fluid situation. You never know what’s going to happen tomorrow. All you can do is think about the guys that you have for the next game coming up and continue to try to make this roster better.”
“Brad’s a good first baseman too and I don’t think he gets enough credit for how well he plays first.”
ROSTER MOVES
On August 9, the Valleycats traded outfielder Carson Maxwell to the Joliet Slammers, also of the Frontier League, for right handed pitcher Logan Dubbe. They also traded right hander Turner Larkins to the Schaumburg Boomers, to complete a previous trade. Schamburg then moved Larkins to Joliet as part of a separate deal.
Maxwell and Larkins were roommates with the Valleycats. Maxwell was tied for the team lead, with 11 home runs this season.
Looking for a defensive upgrade in the outfield, the Valleycats signed Connor Lien, released from the AA Arkansas Travelers, an afiliate of the Seattle Mariners.
The contract of infielder/ outfielder Andres Sosa was purchased by the Toronto Blue Jays and right hander AJ Candelario was activated from the inactive list.