June 21, 2007

Gillespie makes A-league All-Star game

By Matthew Sherman

The West Linn Tidings

It hasn’t been easy for former Oregon State star and West Linn High School graduate Cole Gillespie to keep tabs on his alma mater’s run towards a second consecutive College World Series championship.

Gillespie, who played in the event in 2005 and 2006 and helped Oregon State capture the title last season, caught the final few outs of the Beavers’ close victory over Cal State Fullerton and saw the last half of their win over Arizona State.

But that’s not because of a lack of interest. It’s simply because, as a minor league ball player, there is virtually no time to catch one’s breath.

“You get about one day off a month. You have to adjust and learn how to take care of your body,” Gillespie said.

And, in his first full season at A-level baseball, Gillespie didn’t even get the usual All-Star break off. Gillespie was one of three Brevard County Manatees named to his league’s All-Star team and played all nine innings in that contest.

His team won 8-4 thanks, in part, to his two-run home run early in the game which tied the score at 2-2. Gillespie finished second in the game’s MVP voting for his efforts.

“It was a really fun event and I was pretty excited to be part of it. I didn’t think I had much of a chance because my numbers are just alright,” Gillespie said.

It has been an up and down season for the 2002 West Linn High School graduate. The Manatees recently clinched the first half title in their league, which guarantees them a playoff berth at the season’s end.

Gillespie has been a key component to his team’s success, leading Brevard County, located in East Florida, 45 minutes from Orlando, in home runs and walks and sharing the team lead in RBIs. He is also third on the team in runs and fourth in stolen bases.

It is that well-rounded ability at the plate that made him one of the Milwaukie Brewers’ top picks in 2006, selecting him in the third round.

But Gillespie has also run into much tougher pitching than he did last year in Montana where he played Rookie Ball. His team plays in a large park used for spring training games and the league is pitching heavy.

That has led to an spike in Gillespie’s strikeouts this year and a much lower than normal batting average.

“I’m working on being consistent and cutting down the strikeouts. Obviously I’d like to be hitting about 40 points higher than I am but, in this league, if you’re batting .250, you’re doing pretty well,” Gillespie said.

Still, the left-fielder is considered one of his team’s leaders as evidenced by his All-Star selection and feels that, with some minor improvements, he could start climbing through the Brewers’ organization and ultimately achieve his lifelong dream of playing in the major leagues.

There is a long way to go still and Gillespie hopes to make the next step soon. That would be a promotion to the team’s AA affiliate in Huntsville, Ala. If he continues his progress, it is possible that the call could come as early as the end of the current season.

But there is not much time to think about that right now. Gillespie plays virtually every day and even though all of the teams in Brevard County’s league are also in Florida, the grind can be exhausting.

“There have been days where I feel like I don’t really want to be here but then I tell myself that I’m playing baseball for a living,” Gillespie said.

Still, the experience should help prepare Gillespie for the next levels and he knows that, at any given time, a hot streak can put a player on the fast track to the major leagues.

“I’d love to get called up to AA later this year and would hope to start there next season. If I’m lucky to make it to Nashville in the PCL, I’d get a chance to come to Portland and play against the Beavers,” Gillespie said.

He has already faced a number of major league caliber pitchers, some who have been sent to A league on rehabilitation assignments.

Gillespie is also fortunate that he is a part of one of the more intriguing clubs in baseball right now.

Currently the Brewers are on pace to win the National League’s Central Division and have an exciting core of young players, the majority of which have been groomed by the club’s formidable minor league system.

“Those guys are all homegrown products and it’s really a team on the rise right now,” Gillespie said.

Gillespie tries to get back to West Linn whenever he can but those opportunities don’t come along often.

Last year, during the off-season, he played in an instructional league in Arizona and he expects do be doing something similar this winter.

All of that bodes well for Gillespie, who despite the occasional difficulties, is ready to continue progressing towards his ultimate goal.

“It’s all about making the most of your chances and avoiding injuries. It’s been my dream (to make the major leagues) ever since I can remember and I feel I have a strong opportunity,” Gillespie said.