MLB Draft League gives Rider’s Bardatsos chance to polish his game
Ridgefield native is on Thunder’s opening day roster
TRENTON » Socrates Bardatsos had little respite between the end of a grueling college season and the first game of the MLB Draft League season.
Such is the life of a baseball player trying to get himself noticed by scouts.
“It’s definitely very stressful,” said Bardatsos, who just completed his junior season at Rider University. “We made it to the championship game against Canisius and then two days later came straight here. Haven’t had much time to rest, but I’m excited to be here.”
Bardatsos is part of the opening day roster for the Thunder as they begin their second season in the Draft
League. The Draft League consists of six teams — Trenton, Williamsport, Mahoning Valley, State College, Frederick and West Virginia — with rosters of draft-eligible amateur players for the first part of the season that runs from June 2 until July 16.
The goal is to impress scouts and hopefully hear your name called during the 20-round draft that takes place from July 17-19.
“I just want to have fun, play good baseball, play good competition,” Bardatsos said. “Just get more reps and work on my game.”
Bardatsos has the physical tools to be an interesting prospect. He’s a 6-foot3, 210-pound switch-hitting catcher coming off a junior campaign at Rider in which he slashed .294/.432/.437 with 10 doubles, six homers, six steals and 44 RBI in 54 games.
Bardatsos said he started switch hitting as soon as his father put a bat in his hands.
“Since I started so young it kind of became natural from both sides, so in terms of swinging it feels natural both lefty and righty,” Bardatsos said. “I’m more dominant with right side, but I bat more lefty. I might have a little more power righty because it’s my dominant side, but on the left side I still feel very comfortable and very powerful.”
All six of Bardatsos home runs for Rider were from the left side of the plate (he actually hit one of them off now Thunder teammate Joe Joe Rodriguez of St. John’s).
Another adjustment hitters have to make is going from metal bats in college to wood bats in summer ball.
“The ball comes off the bat much differently,” Bardatsos said. “I’ve played with wood over past summers, so it’s something I’m familiar with. For batting practice a lot during season, I like to use wood so it’s not too new when I come to summer ball.”
The Thunder opened the season on Thursday night at Frederick and paly their home opener back at Trenton Thunder Ballpark — the Draft League team played home games at Rider’s Sonny Pittaro Field last summer while the Buffalo Bisons occupied the stadium in Trenton — next Tuesday.
Bardatsos, a Ridgefield native who played high school at St. Joseph’s Montvale, is eager to get started.
“I’ve never been here or witnessed any games here,” Bardatsos said, “but I’m excited to be playing.”