43
On deck, Season 19 for Mahoning Valley Scrappers
NILES
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers are set to begin their 19th season with, as usual, plenty of new faces on the field, but also a new manager.
Luke Carlin, who had short major-league stints as a catcher with the San Diego Padres, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Cleveland Indians, takes over for the Indians’ short-season A team that calls Eastwood Field in Niles home.
“I feel like I’ve been preparing for this job for the past 10 years,” Carlin said Saturday. “I think being a catcher grooms you for those types of roles with all the connections you make.”
The Scrappers’ season begins on Monday against West Virginia. For many of the players who have been playing with the Arizona League Indians, a rookie-level team that plays at the spring training facility, it’s a welcome start to the season.
“I’ve been waiting for this for awhile,” third baseman Nolan Jones said. “Seeing stands behind home plate is pretty special.”
After lots of instruction, even after spring training, in Arizona. Jones said it’s still tough to make this feel like the beginning of the season — because for him, it’s not.
“When you already have 200-250 at bats, it’s not really a home opener,” Jones said. “I’ve played more baseball than I have in my entire life already this year and I still have half a season to go.”
That development the players were getting in Arizona will continue, but now wins and losses count and games won’t be slowed down or halted just for a lesson to be taught.
“Development is vital,” Carlin said. “We’d be doing a disservice if we weren’t developing them into major league players. But winning is important too. It makes it easier to come to the field and train when you’re winning.”
Carlin will know how well the team is doing based on how many players he sees packing their bags for the Advanced-A affiliate in Lynchburg, Va.
“The more guys we can send up the more successful we’re going to be,” Carlin said. “Ultimately our goal is to get these guys performing well so they can get out of here.”
Outfielder Will Benson said he likes how his coaching staff is not long removed from playing professionally themselves. Carlin last played in 2012.
“They understand the ups and downs,” Benson said. “If I have a bad two weeks they’re not going to be ‘Oh, you’ve got to sit down.’ They’re going to encourage you to keep pushing.”
ALL IN THE FAMILY
If you look at this year’s roster and think Zach Plesac’s last name sounds familiar it’s because he’s the nephew of Dan Plesac who pitched for 18 seasons in the major leagues. He pitched for Milwaukee, the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Arizona and Philadelphia.
Zach, who’s coming off of Tommy John surgery last year, isn’t worried about pressure emanating from his last name.
“I don’t look at it as pressure,” he said. “I look at it like I have someone in my family I can look to as a resource. If I have a question I know he’s been through it so it’s good to have him there.”