August 11, 2007

Pro baseball: Promotions for Bates, Carr have them playing at Fenway Park in minors game
By JIM SEIMAS
Sentinel staff writer

First baseman Aaron Bates and relief pitcher Adam Carr found out this week they were headed to greener pastures.

In the baseball world, it doesn't get much more green than the Green Monster and Fenway Park in Boston.

Bates, a La Selva Beach native, was promoted to the Boston Red Sox's Double-A affiliate in Portland on Friday. Carr, a former San Lorenzo Valley High standout, was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg, the Washington Nationals' Double-A affiliate, Monday.

The promotions came with a well-timed bonus. The Portland Sea Dogs began a three-game Eastern League series with the Harrisburg Senators Friday night at Hadlock Field in Portland. Today, the Sea Dogs and Senators will travel to Fenway Park as part of the "Futures at Fenway" doubleheader event. Both games will be televised by NESN.

"The history there is unbelievable," said Bates of Fenway Park. "It's going to be a special feeling and I'm going to embrace it and soak it in a little. It's an opportunity to play in one of the greatest parks in America"

Given the statistics Bates produced at Advanced Single-A Lancaster, you'd think he'd include Clear Channel Stadium on his top-5 list.

The 23-year old Bates appeared in 98 games with the JetHawks prior to his promotion, batting .332 with a California League-leading 24 home runs. He also leads the league in on-base percentage [.456] and ranks third in slugging percentage [.592].

His season totals are even more impressive considering Bates missed 15 games in July with a sprained ankle. When he returned, he hit safely in 13 of his next 14 games, batting better than .450 over that stretch.

Bates, who attended Soquel as a high school freshman before transferring to San Jose's Archbishop Mitty, was also recently named the best defensive first baseman in the league in Baseball America's poll of California League managers.

Bates, a third round selection out of North Carolina State in the June 2006 draft, became the first player in California League history to hit four home runs in one game on May 19.

It's Bates' second trip to Fenway. He made a pre-game appearance on the field when he was honored as a Cape Cod League All-Star a few years back.

"I'm real excited," Bates said of his promotion. "It's a great opportunity. It's one step closer to the bigs"

Carr, a former Sentinel All-County pick, was equally excited about his promotion and chance to play in Fenway. "It's something real special," he said of his first trip to Boston.

The former power-hitting first baseman out of Oklahoma State served as a closer for Single-A Potomac prior to his promotion. He was 3-1 with 13 saves and a 1.81 ERA in 49.2 innings. He allowed 30 hits, 10 earned runs, while recording 38 walks and 65 strikeouts.

"I have a lot to learn," Carr said. "It's my job and hitting's not an option now. If I want to keep this uniform on, I have to keep things going"

It was a deserved promotion, said Robin Guiver, Carr's pitching coach on the wood-bat Humboldt Crabs summer team from 2002-'05.

"He's always had the arm and ability," he said. "He may be the only high school kid we've ever had play on the team. When he first played here, we had guys from Cal State Fullerton, when they won the World Series, and they were all impressed with him. He's more refined now. He's a pitcher. He works as hard as any kid I know. I'm so happy for him"

Carr said he picked up some great tips from Potomac pitching coach Randy Tomlin, which added velocity to his fastball.

Carr throws in the 94-95 mph range and has topped out at 97. He also throws a slider and change-up, if he works more than one inning.

"His slider is nasty," Guiver said. "He's pretty much a two-pitch guy. A lot of closers go two pitches and go after hitters"

Carr's effectiveness has drawn rave reviews. Baseball America's Aaron Fitt told Nationals Farm Authority, a Web site that follows Washington's minor league system, that Carr was a steal in the 18th round of the 2006 draft.

"The biggest surprise was probably Adam Carr, who had barely pitched in college but showed great stuff while dominating low Class A in his pro debut," he said.

Many reports have Carr close to cracking the Nationals' list of top 20 prospects.