8/14/2010 4:59:19 PM
The winds were howling in from left field at Cunningham park for todays homerun contest. This led everyone to believe that the left handed hitters would have a gigantic advantage. However two switch hitters both hitting from the right side and two right hand hitters became the qualifiers for tomorrow's final at Petco Park.
Javier Baez hit one out into the teeth of the wind. Several other well hit balls fell short of the spacious outfield walls. Cameron Gallagher also hit one and had a couple blown back to the wrning track. Gallagher suffered a sprained thumb during yesterday's workout and it seemed to affect his swing a bit. Austin Slater also hit one out. Josh Tobias a switch hitter who put on a big power display at Tropicana Field (PG National) in June, hit two out and just missed a couple more.
Smooth shortstop Francisco Lindor is an outstanding hitter, but scouts wouldn't have picked him to make the HR finals, let alone hit more than anyone. Especially hitting right handed into a howling wind. However, Lindor hit four out and hit another off the wall. That little power display had to impress every scout in attendance, especially coming from one of the top true shortstops to ever play in the Aflac All american game.
The West team had right handed hitters Christian Lopes and Travis Harrison make the finals. Harrison looked great today in BP before the HR contest. Lopes hit three out and one was a tape measure shot. Daniel Camarena also hit a long one off the top part of the building in right field.
There were some that just narrowly went foul, but overall, the concern was whether anyone would be able to hit one out to left field. Lindor hit four! We have him ranked very high, but we don't have him ranked high enough. That is going to change. There is no question that he will get bigger and stronger. He is putting on quite a show in San Diego and it appears that he is absolutely loving the stage. This kid loves to be on a baseball field whether it's shagging balls or playing the game.