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South Range’s Rohan promoted
As a minor leaguer, Chicago Cubs prospect Greg Rohan is accustomed to sudden changes.
One such switch took place on July 1 after the South Range High graduate was informed that he’d been promoted to the Tennessee Smokies of the Double A Southern League.
“I drove from Daytona {Fla.] to Chattanooga [Tenn.] where the Smokies were playing at the Lookouts,” Rohan said of the 10-to-11 hour drive.
“I got there as the game was starting, got changed and had a pinch-hit,” he said of meeting the team during a road game against Chattanooga, a Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate. “It was kind of a crazy day.”
The 26-year-old Rohan said it was huge to get called up to Double A, a move from the Advanced Class A Daytona Cubs in the Florida State League to the Class AA Smokies, a team based in Kodak in eastern Tennessee.
On Monday, in his first start with the Smokies — again against the Lookouts in Chattanooga, Rohan went 4-for-4 with a couple doubles, a couple RBIs and a walk.
The elevation is his reward for play that included appearances in all-star games in back-to-back seasons: the Midwest League in 2011 and the Florida State League in 2012.
“They get hitting/fielding rovers who come in from time to time,” Rohan said of internal scouting. “I actually got called into the office [of Daytona manager] Brian Harper [a former Twins catcher] and he told me [on June 30] that I was getting promoted and leaving the next morning for Tennessee.”
The infielder plays the corners, but mostly third base this season.
The right-handed hitting Rohan was leading the FSL with 65 RBIs.
While hitting is his strength and something he takes pride in, fielding can’t be second-fiddle.
“I’ve always got to play defense, especially being with a National League team like I am,” he said in reference to the NL not having the designated-hitter rule.
Rohan was drafted by the Cubs in the 21st round in June 2009. He split the 2010 and 2011 seasons between Peoria (Ill.) and Daytona.
He began 2012 with the D-Cubs and in 75 games hit .285 with 23 doubles, one triple and 12 home runs.
His overnight transition from High A to AA didn’t faze Rohan.
“I try to keep my routine and do the same things I did down in Daytona,” he said. “I act like it’s just another away game.”
Sharpening his game has made a difference.
“To keep maturing as a hitter, you have to make adjustments,” Rohan said. “I try to keep developing the adjustments I made last year and I made different ones this year. I think that’s what the minor leagues are for: guys finding what their swing is and getting to know their swing to you can stay away from slumps.
“You learn little adjustments to make yourself feel better. I’ve been trying to learn that about my swing.”
How much better are pitchers?
“Guys are similar, but they’re around the strikeout zone a little more and the velocity [94-98 mph] is a little greater,” Rohan said. “At the same time, the hitters are more confident in their approach.
“The pitchers are the same way — they can throw more pitches for strikes, like a slider or curveball on hitting counts. On a 2-0 count you’re not going to get a fastball all the time; you might get something off-speed.”
Just a few weeks ago, Rohan’s Daytona Cubs team played against his cousin’s team, the St. Lucie Mets in High-A. The cousin, Ed Rohan, is a former Ursuline High player from Boardman.
“Growing up around baseball in Youngstown was huge in my development,” said Greg Rohan, who played for Rondinelli Tuxedo of the Class B League. “It was kind of what we did everyday.”
Rohan, who played at Kent State before being drafted, said he talked to head coach Scott Stricklin about the Flashes’ first College World Series appearance last month.
“It’s unbelievable,” Rohan said. “I talked to him [via text] recently. I’d have guys running in [to our Daytona clubhouse] during [Kent State] games to give me updates.”