Before players are promoted to the Southern League, they are prepped on how the pitching at the Class AA level is vastly superior to what they have encountered.
Still, there is nothing like experience, as new Chattanooga Lookouts right fielder Kyle Russell discovered last Friday at AT&T Field against Birmingham.
“When I was in the California League, you would be in certain situations when you knew what pitch was coming,” Russell said. “Once you get to a count of 2-0, you’re usually anticipating a fastball, but I got to 2-0 three times the other night and I didn’t see a fastball any of those times. The consistency pitchers have of trying to keep us guessing has been a big adjustment.”
Russell, who turned 24 on Sunday, began his second full season in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization as the club’s No. 12 prospect according to Baseball America. He started this year in high Single-A Inland Empire and amassed 53 RBIs in 53 games, hitting .354 with 11 doubles, four triples and 16 home runs.
The 6-foot-5, 185-pounder out of the University of Texas was promoted June 7 to Chattanooga and quickly discovered the talent gap, as his first 17 games have yielded a .200 average with five doubles, one triple, one homer and five RBIs.