News
Singleton remains productive in AFL
Twins prospect has driven in nine runs in last nine games
By Danny Wild / MLB.com
11/04/09 6:35 PM EST
Steve Singleton may not be the biggest name in the Twins' system, but he's hoping to change that in the coming months."Everyone here is somebody in their organization, so it's definitely stiff competition," Singleton said of the Arizona Fall League. "For a lot of us, it helps us rise to the occasion. It's been a great experience, just unbelievable."
Singleton went 3-for-5 and collected his ninth RBI in as many games Wednesday to help the Mesa Solar Sox defeat the Peoria Javelinas, 8-5.
Singleton, an 11th-round pick in the 2006 Draft, singled and scored in the first inning and lined an RBI double in the second. He got another base hit in the third, when Mesa (7-12) scored five times to build an 8-0 cushion.
"I got a single up the middle on a changeup the at-bat before, so I figured he'd try to come at me hard," Singleton said of his second AFL double. "He got ahead of me 0-1, kept working it away and finally left it over the middle. I hit it up the middle and luckily it got it over the center fielder's head. It was a big hit, got things going."
Singleton has driven in runs in six of his last nine games, totaling nine RBIs over that stretch. The three-hit performance raised his AFL average to .319.
"I think I'm doing pretty well. I'm getting better, getting some more quality at-bats," the University of San Diego product said. "I'm seeing some pitches, having good at-bats. This league is a lot of the best players in the Minors, so it's a great opportunity."
The 24-year-old San Francisco native split the regular season between Class A Advanced Fort Myers and Double-A New Britain, hitting .277 with six homers and 57 RBIs in 126 games.
"It's pretty similar [to Double-A], although there's a lot of older guys in Double-A, veterans who know what they're doing," said Singleton. "You got a lot of big prospects out here, the talent level is the highest I've ever played with."
The talent broke through in the third for Mesa when Marlins slugger Matt Dominguez hit a two-run homer and Cubs catching prospect Michael Brenly followed with another two-run shot.
"We got a couple long balls, the whole lineup was kind of clicking there," Singleton said of the big inning. "We were lucky we pushed enough across, it's always good to be a part of that."
Singleton, a 2009 Florida State League All-Star, said he's looking for some consistency at the plate during his time in Arizona.
"I just want to play well, hit the ball hard, make sure I make good contact," he said. "These are guys that, if I get up to the bigs, I'll face them again. It's a measuring stick to see where I'm at. Everyone wants to hit .300 and play good 'D,' but I try to stay away from the numbers."
The numbers haven't been bad lately for Singleton. He's hit safely in his last five games, scoring eight times in that span.
"I think I've stayed pretty steady this whole time. I feel good, sticking with my approach, trying to take what the pitcher gives me," he said. "These guys are too good to try and get big and get out of the game plan. I'm just trying to the square up the ball."
Red Sox right-hander Randor Bierd (2-1) picked up the win, despite allowing five runs on four hits and two walks over three innings. He struck out four and saw his ERA jump to 5.60.
Tigers prospect Casper Wells hit a three-run homer in the third to highlight a five-run outburst for Peoria. Dodgers right-hander Travis Schlichting (1-1) allowed three runs -- one earned -- on four hits and a pair of walks over the first two innings.
Danny Wild is an editor for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
