Reimold gets a taste

By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
PITTSBURGH -- For Kennedy Catholic High graduate Nolan Reimold, being selected for the 2006 Future Stars Game was a sweet surprise.
That the 6-foot-4-inch, 207-pound outfielder for the Frederick Keys would get to play in a major league ball park about 70 minutes from his hometown of Greenville, Pa., was icing on the cake.
"I found out about two weeks ago," said Reimold of his selection to the minor league all-star game that kicked off Sunday's All-Star Game festivities at PNC Park. "I woke up one morning and my roomie showed me the roster. It was a surprise.
"And when I found out it's in Pittsburgh, I thought that was awesome, especially for family and friends," said the 2002 graduate of Kennedy Catholic in Hermitage, Pa.
"Everybody from home can come to it if they want. So this is a little bit of a homecoming for me."
Parents attended
His parents, John and Mary Reimold, were among those watching as Team USA defeated World, 8-5.
In high school, Reimold was a member of three Class A state championship basketball teams.
So how hard was it to chose baseball over basketball when it can time to make a college decision?
"It wasn't that difficult because I decided to choose baseball early," said Reimold, adding that he signed a commitment with Bowling Green in September of his senior year.
Reimold said that when he was 16, his father placed him on a summer league team, B.B. Rooners, and the bug to pursue baseball in college bit him.
"We played like 60 games and I did pretty well and began getting recruited," Reimold said. "So I decided then to choose baseball over basketball."
And because of his early commitment, "I never really received any offers for basketball."
Three seasons at Bowling Green
Reimold played three seasons with Bowling Green, then was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the second round of the 2005 baseball draft (61st overall selection).
Baseball America named him the top prospect in the New York-Penn League and ranked him as the 99th best prospect overall.
After playing for the Aberdeen Ironbirds last summer, he was promoted to the Keys for the Carolina League playoffs. In those postseason games, Reimold batted .357 (10-for-28) and hit three doubles.
Having a good season
This season, Reimold has a .454 slugging percentage after 70 games with the Keys. He is batting .258, with 62 hits, 51 runs scored, 10 homers and 45 RBIs.
Reimold says playing baseball for a career "is a lot of fun, but it's a grind every day for six months."
Growing up, Reimold said he was a fan of both the Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates.
"We lived about the same distance from both [cities], so I liked both of them," said Reimold, whose favorite player was former Indians outfielder Manny Ramirez.
"I always enjoyed watching him hit," Reimold said.
But like Ramirez, the American League's top vote getter, Reimold won't be at PNC Park Tuesday for the 77th All-Star Game.
Ramirez is recuperating a leg injury and will skip the All-Star Game. Reimold and the other Future Stars will rejoin their minor league teams today.
Reimold was 10 the last time Pittsburgh played host to the All-Star Game (1994) at Three Rivers Stadium.
"I can't really remember anything about that game," Reimold said.
Played right field
In Sunday's Futures Game, Reimold played right field for Team USA in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. He fielded one ball, a double hit by Wladimir Balentien in the fifth inning. Reimold's throw to second base was just behind the sliding Balentien.
In his one at-bat, Reimold worked a full count off pitcher Liz Radhames before flying out to left field.
"The best part of this is playing with so many future major leaguers on both teams," Reimold said. "It's nice to be associated with these quality guys."
Reimold said he hopes to progress enough this summer to move up to the Double A level by next spring.
williams@vindy.com