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Pirates prospect pitches at Eastwood
Photo
Mahoning Valley Scrappers baserunner Hunter Jones (17) is caught in a rundown by State College Spikes, clockwise from left, first baseman Jared Lakind (32), second baseman Jordan Carvajal (31) and pitcher Luis Heredia 55) during Wednesday’s New York-Penn League game at Eastwood Field in Niles. Jones was tagged out on the play, and the Scrappers fell to the Spikes, 8-6.
By Joe Scalzo
NILES
Everything about Luis Heredia is outsized.
From his 6-foot-6 frame (he looks every bit of it in person) to the $2.6 million signing bonus he got as a 16-year-old from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2010 to the expectations that come with that kind of money.
On Wednesday, Scrappers fans — and area Pirates fans — got their first look at Heredia in the Spikes’ 8-6 victory at Eastwood Field. Heredia, a State College pitcher who showed off his mid-90s fastball (which helped him get three strikeouts) and his hanging curveball (one of which was deposited over the right field wall by Joe Wendle in the first inning) in a five-inning no decision.
It was the sort of up-and-down game you’d expect from an 18-year-old who, two years ago, was just a promising prospect in Mazatlan, Mexico.
“I threw very good,” he said after giving up three runs over 68 pitches, including 46 strikes. “I [struggled] with command [at times] but I had the mentality to compete.”
Mazatlan, a beach town on the Pacific Ocean, is 2,500 miles from State College. To help with the adjustment to the United States, Heredia moved his parents to Tampa, near the Pirates’ spring training home in Bradenton.
“My family takes care of me,” said Heredia, adding that his grandmother cooks for him. “I have the best family and I love them so much. My Mom always tells me, ‘Never give up.’”
Heredia’s English is passable — he speaks quickly and enthusiastically — and, as his 1.86 ERA shows, he’s adjusting well on and off the field.
“I like Tampa, I like the United States, I like the people, I like State College, I like the fans ... I like everything,” he said. “I’m very happy.”
Heredia gave up six of the Scrappers’ 11 hits. Jeremy Lucas had a double off Heredia — “I think we got the best of him today,” Lucas said — and finished 3 for 4 with two doubles and two runs.
“Our offense did a good job tonight,” said Lucas, who upped his batting average to .257 in 11 games. “Just not enough.”
Lucas, a 12th round draft pick out of Indiana State, is one of the few Scrappers whose hometown is within driving distance of Mahoning Valley.
“It’s about seven hours [from Terre Haute, Ind.], so I’m lucky enough that my family and friends and girlfriend can come out,” said Lucas, the Missouri Valley Conference player of the year as a junior this spring. “It’s not too bad a situation.
“I’m getting paid to do what I love. That’s definitely the best part of pro baseball. You’re meeting new people and new cultures and getting all this knowledge from the coaches. It’s been a great experience so far.”
He’s still in the early stages of his pro transition, but said the jump is a lot different than, say, high school to college.
“It really is a job,” he said. “Just the every day grind of getting up and getting your work in, you have to look at it as an opportunity.
“You have to develop a routine and stick with that routine and keep one goal in mind.”
Erik Gonzalez doubled and scored twice and Hunter Jones added two hits and two RBIs for Mahoning Valley.
STATE COLLEGE 8, SCRAPPERS 6
State CollegeScrappers
abrhbiabrhbi
Gafney rf 3000Kelly ss5010
Jones ph-rf2011Naquin cf4010
Fuselier lf5111Wendle 3b4111
Barnes cf4121Sever dh3100
Crumlich 3b3100Siliga lf4010
Stallings c5122Lucas c4230
Diaz ss2200Gonzalez 1b4221
Barrios dh4110Jones rf2022
Lakind 1b4011Garcia 2b3000 Carvajal 2b3122Garcia 2b3001
Totals358108Totals366115
State College020120030—8
Scrappers110013000—6
E—Crumlich (4), Jones (3), Wendle (5), Kelly (7).
DP —None. LOB—State College 9, Scrappers 5. 2B—Lucas 2 (3), Gonzalez 2 (4), Barrios (1), Barnes (4). HR—Wendle (1). HR—Barnes (4), Valerio (3). SB—Crumlich (3), Siliga (5), Wendle (3). SB—Barnes 2 (9), Crumlich (4), Carvajal (4), Jones (1). CS—Jones (1).
IPHRERBBSO
State College
Heredia563313
Smith BS 21-333211
Ludwig W 2-02 2-320002
Haynes S 3100013
Scrappers
Martin555423
Morel L 1-1353303
Homblert1-320010
Penny100001
WP—Heredia, Martin. HBP—Diaz (by Martin), Barnes (by Martin), Crumlich (by Morel). Umpires—Home, James Pattison; Bases, Jorge Teran. T—2:55. A—2,945.