NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks shortstop Adrian Salazar makes a throw to first base early in the Mavericks 6-4 10th inning to the Okotoks Dawgs Tuesday night.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Adrian Salazar has enjoyed his first week as a Medicine Hat Maverick.
The Mavs’ shortstop said it’s been a lot of fun to start the season and he likes that he’s started the year atop of the lineup.
“It’s been good, hard work pays off,” Salazar said. “I had a really good season so I just tried to carry it here, I’ve had like a month off before here but it’s good to see it hasn’t really left.”
The Glendale, Ariz. product played for Arizona’s Ottawa University and had a strong season with 69 hits, 14 home runs and a .377 batting average in 50 games.
He was named the Mavericks first player of the game of the season and received two personal sized bags of Old Dutch salt and vinegar chips. He said he’s usually a spicy chip fan but they did not have any at the time.
Salazar said they don’t have Old Dutch branded chips or ketchup flavoured chips back home. He said he’s tried Ketchup chips and rated them, “not bad” but said he could never finish a full bag.
Salazar is one of four seniors on the Mavericks and is the only one who is done with his schooling. The 23-year-old as of Wednesday said he’s looking to raise his stock this summer while donning the Mavs red.
“Hopefully, just raise my stock and see what happens with professional baseball after the summer,” Salazar said. “Maybe in middle of summer, we’ll see you but as long as I keep playing, I’m sure I’ll find somewhere to play.”
He’s had a strong start to his summer campaign, leading the team with nine hits through their first five games and is one of five hitters to appear in all of their games entering Thursday’s contest in Brooks against the Bombers.
Mavericks head coach Tyler Jeske said Salazar has been extremely valuable to the club so far and he can see the maturity from him on and off the field.
“Through the first four games as he goes, we’ll go being at the top of the lineup and out there at shortstop. Eventually he’s going to need a day off,” Jeske said with a laugh. “But you can really see his maturity and the fact that he’s an older player who’s graduated and is looking to use this as an opportunity to continue to put up numbers and try to earn himself an opportunity to the next level. You see the swing, you see the bat and just watch how he carries himself, you can really you can see the confidence.”
Salazar said he’s always enjoyed playing shortstop because he’s always in the play.
“I like being involved in as many plays as possible,” Salazar said. “Even balls in the outfield, I’m over there to cut it off, I just like being involved. Just helps me stay involved in the game focus.”
Salazar said he’s enjoyed working with his fellow infielders and described them all as athletes.
“The team is really good but I think all four of us in the infield all shortstops, so we’re athletes and that makes a lot easier for sure,” Salazar said.
He said it’s been fun playing with this group so far and he is happily surprised how close they are so soon.
“I’ve played summer ball before in different states and it definitely took a little longer but with this group guys, it seems to happen right away which makes it more fun,” Salazar said.
Salazar and the Mavericks return to Athletic Park to host the Moose Jaw Miller Express Friday and Saturday night before hitting the road for Swift Current to take on the 57’s on Sunday. Friday and Saturday’s games get underway at 7:05 p.m.
