Chambers finds success in professional debut

Guy Cipriano

UNIVERSITY PARK— Center fielder Evan Chambers might be facing the biggest on-field transition among the current State College Spikes.

CDT photo/Craig Houtz

Pittsburgh PIrates third-round draft pick Evan Chambers went 0-for-1 with three walks and an RBI while scoring the winning run in the bottom of the ninth in his professional debut with the Spikes on Thursday.

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Chambers, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ third-round draft pick, started his direct leap from junior college to New York-Penn League baseball during the Auburn series.

His first game Thursday was a rousing success as he walked three times, scored the winning run and hit a sacrifice fly to left field. Chambers made solid contact on his lone out, lining a ball into left fielder Chris Hopkins’ glove.

Chambers also played center field and caught five fly balls, including two during the first inning.

“He showed great composure,” manager Gary Robinson said. “If there was any nervousness or anxiety, it surely didn’t show. He had good at-bats all night. You can’t ask for anything better for a first night.”

Still, Chambers expects to face some major challenges this summer.

Chambers, 20, attended Hillsborough Community College, a junior college program in Tampa, Fla. Chambers, who started his college career at Florida, played primarily against 18-and 19-year-old players this spring.

In many cases, parent clubs send junior college players to rookie leagues to begin professional careers. But the Pirates have displayed confidence in Chambers since draft day, when they selected him 84th overall. Chambers was the second junior college player selected in draft.

“It’s going to be just keeping the approach I had (Thursday) and keeping everything simple because the pitching is better here,” Chambers said. “I can’t do anything to complicate anything or they will take advantage of it.”

Chambers is the Pirates’ highest drafted junior college player since they selected former Tallahassee Community College standout A.J. Johnson in the sixth round of the 2004 draft. Johnson, a college catcher turned into an outfielder, started his career with Williamsport in the NY-PL and hit .251 with 73 strikeouts during his first professional season. Johnson never advanced past Low-A with the Pirates.

The 5-foot-9 Chambers, a 19th round pick of the Colorado Rockies in 2007, could be a different player. He hit .324 with 11 homers, 13 doubles, 27 stolen bases and 37 walks as a sophomore at Hillsborough.

Asked if he feels Chambers can handle the jump from junior college to the NY-PL, Robinson said “absolutely.”

“He has quite a bit to learn about outfield play,” Robinson said. “But offensively I think he’s going to do OK. It appears to me that he sees the ball well and he sees it quick. He has good zone recognition and good pitch recognition.”

Thursday marked Chambers’ first game since April 22. He spent the layoff hitting with family friend Randy Dell in Tampa and working out alone at his Lakeland, Fla., home.

“I have been getting after it pretty good,” he said.

Right fielder David Rubinstein said Chambers will help the Spikes’ outfield. Rubinstein played alongside Chambers the past two nights.

“The guy can definitely swing the bat,” Rubinstein said. “He has some quickness and it looks like he reads the ball pretty well. I think he’s going to be a solid defender and he has a plus bat, so he’s going to help us offensively and defensively.”

One-pitch victory

Marc Baca, a 42nd-round pick from UNLV, might have trouble remembering his pro win because it took just one pitch.

Baca replaced Zach Foster with two outs in Thursday’s ninth inning. Baca then threw an inside fastball to Kyle Gilligan, who popped it up to Brock Holt. In the bottom of the inning, the Spikes scored the winning run on Rubinstein’s two-out single.

Baca credited Foster, who pitched 22/ 3 scoreless relief innings, in helping him earn the victory.

“I’m excited I got my first win,” Baca said. “I can’t complain. I basically give it all to Foster. Without him, I wouldn’t be in that position.”

The outing was Baca’s first one-pitch victory in his life. The pitch didn’t require him to ice his right arm after the game.

Owens honored

Baseball America named former Spikes left-hander Rudy Owens to its Midseason Minor League All-Star Second Team. He was the lone Pirates prospect selected to either the first or second team.

Owens, who spent all of 2008 in State College, has started this season by going 9-1 with a 1.90 ERA and a 75-to-11 walk-to-strikeout ratio at full-season West Virginia. Owens leads the South Atlantic League in ERA and wins.

Owens, 21, was erratic last season as he went 3-6 with a 4.97 ERA in 15 outings for the Spikes.

Day ball

The Spikes play their first day game when they meet Williamsport at 1 p.m. today at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The stadium will be cleared out immediately after the game before re-opening 90 minutes later for spectators to watch fireworks.

The Spikes are 3-0 all-time in July 4 games.