Leonard realizes power of versatility
Pat Leonard has played third base, left field, center field, right field and first base in the Tampa Bay Rays minor league system.
The organization is trying to find Leonard a home. That is not bad news. That is good news.
Leonard, 24, is the Durham (N.C.) Bulls everyday third baseman, but he isn’t going to be the Rays everyday third baseman. The Rays have star third baseman Evan Longoria signed for at least five more seasons. There is no path to the big leagues for Leonard, at third base at least.
So the Rays are going to find out what Leonard looks like defensively around the diamond. They must like what he looks like at the plate.
In the season opener Thursday at the Gwinnett (Ga.) Braves, Leonard had four hits, including a home run. In the second game Friday, he had three hits, but his hardest-hit ball was a drive to the right-center-field gap that was hauled in at the 400-foot wall. The Braves center fielder was deep and in a prevent defense in the ninth inning and probably would not have caught it otherwise.
Leonard went 8-for-19 (.421) with a home run in the seasonopening International League series against the Braves. Durham won three of the four games.
“When a team is moving you around, it’s, ‘Hey, maybe these guys have a plan for me and want me to succeed,’ ” Leonard said. “Our manager (Jared Sandberg) says it all the time: ‘When you get called up, you are not going to be hitting 4-hole, playing third base, that position is locked up. You are going to be hitting ninth and maybe playing left field.’ ”
Leonard’s situation brings up a basic tenet of minor league ball: You are not playing for one team, you are playing for 30.
“If you perform, someone is going to want you,” Leonard said. “You can’t worry about what’s going on at the major league level.
“Just look at Ben Zobrist. He can start in left, right, second, short, first. He can play anywhere.”
Scouts from 29 other clubs will scour Class AAA looking for a surplus, so there will be eyes on Leonard, especially if he continues to hit with two strikes.
Atlanta pitching prospect Aaron Blair had two strikes on Leonard and threw a fastball down and away, and Leonard rapped it into right field for a single. Leonard had two strikes when he homered in the season opener. He is an aggressive early-count hitter and susceptible to first- and secondpitch off-speed, but he has a plan.
“I worked on my two-strike approach a lot this spring training,” Leonard said. “When I get to two strikes, I spread out a little bit and I don’t take my foot off the ground. I just load my hands and just try and put the ball in play.”
It brings to mind another adage scouts will use: Shake a tree full of 10 prospects, and nine gloves will fall out and one bat.
The bat is more rare and precious. If Leonard hits, he will find a home.
“When a team is moving you around, it’s, ‘Hey, maybe these guys have a plan for me and want me to succeed.’ ” Pat Leonard