Former Kats Making Mark In Minors
7/4/2016 8:06:00 AM | Baseball
This summer 13 former Sam Houston baseball stars are competing playing minor league baseball.
Two – Ryan O'Hearn and Corey Toups -- are working their way up the minor league ladder for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, in Springdale, Arkansas.
“It's been a blast so far. It's been a pretty cool experience,” Toups said.
With the exception of the second half of the 2015 season, O'Hearn and Toups, 2014 sixth- and eight-round draft picks, respectively, have gone through the promotion process mostly on the same team.
Both played for the rookie ball Idaho Falls Chukars of the Pioneer League after signing contracts following the college baseball season in 2014. Then, both were promoted to the Single-A Lexington Legends at the beginning of the 2015 season.
O'Hearn started that season on such a tear, batting .277 with 19 home runs and 56 RBIs, that he was promoted midseason to the Class-A Advanced Wilmington Blue Rocks. Hitting .236 with eight homers and driving in 21 RBIs in 46 games to finish the 2015 season, O'Hearn started this season with the Blue Rocks, but was promoted in early May.
Toups played solidly for the Legends, batting .291 with 39 extra-base hits and 44 RBIs. Due to his strong effort, he started the season with Wilmington, then joined O'Hearn with the Naturals late in May.
“It's what you work for. It's not always convenient and you've got to figure out where you're going to live, you've got to move your car, but that's what you work for,” said O'Hearn, who is ranked the Royals' 12th-best prospect according to mlbpipeline.com.
“It's exciting. Me and Corey haven't always been on the exact same team the past couple of years — we get promoted at different times — but we both have been fortunate to move up. It's exciting to be back up in Double-A for a second full season.”
Two years ago, Ryan O'Hearn and Corey Toups helped carry the Sam Houston State baseball program to one of its best seasons in school history.
With Toups scooping balls up at shortstop and O'Hearn providing plenty of power at first base, the pair helped the Bearkats win the second-most games (44) at the Division I level in school history and were finalists of the Fort Worth Regional against nationally seeded TCU in 2014.
This season, O'Hearn is hitting .316 with 14 home runs and 44 RBIs, while Toups has a .257 batting average with 27 extra-base hits and 20 RBIs between Single-A Advanced and Double-A.
Having played at a variety of levels over the last two years alone, there is a small, but distinct difference, the former Kats say.
“Every level, there's guys that can hit it pretty hard,” Toups said. “The game gets faster at different levels. You've just got to make better decisions eliminate the mistakes and be more consistent.”
“I think the main thing for me would be the consistency of the pitching,” O'Hearn said. “Double-A has a lot of guys with a lot of talent. In Double-A, there's bigger stadiums and bigger crowds. That doesn't bother me too much.”
For a short while, Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas played two games with the Naturals on a rehab assignment in May prior to tearing his ACL approximately a week later. Then late last month, outfielder Alex Gordon played four games with O'Hearn and Toups with the Naturals for a rehab assignment.
Playing vital roles for the World Series champions a year ago, Moustakas and Gordon led by example with their work ethic for the former Bearkats to see and learn from.
“Both Moose (Moustakas) and Gordon were here for a short period of time,” O'Hearn said. “I just tried to pick their brains and learn as much as I could and watch how they go about their business. It was exciting for me because they're both left-handed hitters and hit the ball to the gap.
“It wasn't one specific thing. You watch how they work every day and how they go about their business. One thing I did learn was how calm they are with every at-bat. They're consistent with their quality of at-bats.”
Toups also crossed paths with former Sam Houston teammate Ryan Brinley, who was drafted by the Washington Nationals in 2015.
“When I was in Wilmington, we played against Ryan Brinley, who is pitching for the Washington Nationals' Double-A Potomac Nationals,” Toups said. “It was cool to see him. I hadn't seen him in about a year. At first, I didn't recognize him when he walked up. It took a second for it to register. It was really cool.”
Putting together strong seasons this year, the two former Bearkats are hopeful they can see even more promotions in their future.
“I think good things happen to people who work hard,” O'Hearn said. “That's what we've done since we've gotten to pro ball. We took it as an opportunity and we've gotten after it every day.
“You have to listen to your coaches. It's your career; you've got to want it. You've got to put the work in every day. I'm blessed and fortunate that things bounce the right way and I have a career that's moved pretty fast. Hopefully, that just continues to happen and I'll be in the major leagues at some point.”
Joining O'Hearn and Toups on minor league baseball rosters this summer are:
• GREG BELTON – Orern Owiz (Rookie)
• ALEX BISACCA – Pulaski Yankees (Rookie)
• LOGAN BOYD – Greenville Drive (Single A)
• RYAN BRINLEY – Harrisbuurg Senators (Double-A)
• CODY DICKSON – Altoona Curve (Double-A)
• TYLER EPPLER – Altoona Curve (Double-A)
• DUSTIN MARTIN – Toros de Tijuana (Triple-A)
• NOLAN RIGGS – Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Short Season – Single A)
• CALEB SMITH – Trenton Thunder (Double-A)
• RYAN TEPERA – Buffalo Bisons (Triple-A)
• COLLIN YELICH – Danville Braves (Rookie)
