JohnnyGopher
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http://www.startribune.com/sports/preps/47709352.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUo8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
METRO PLAYER OF THE YEAR RYAN ABRAHAMSON • TARTAN SENIOR SHORTSTOP[/B]
Ryan Abrahamson doesn't care about the spotlight or statistics, and according to his baseball coach at Tartan High School, the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year doesn't truly realize how much talent he has.
Last Friday, in anticipation of this week's Major League Baseball draft, the Twins invited Abrahamson to take batting practice at the Metrodome. Later that day, Tartan coach Curt Russell called Abrahamson. The conversation went like this:
"How did it go?"
"It went all right coach, thanks."
"Hit any lasers?"
"I hit a few."
"What does that mean?"
"I hit a few out."
"What does that mean?"
"I hit five or six out."
One of those homers, with Abrahamson using a wooden bat for the first time, landed about 25 rows deep in left-center. Also taking swings that day was Gophers infielder Derek McCallum, who was drafted by the Twins in the fourth round Wednesday.
After seeing McCallum, Abrahamson told Russell: "Coach, he can hit. He hits everything hard." The coach replied, "Look in the mirror, buddy."
Abrahamson, a 6-4 power-hitting shortstop, is set to follow in McCallum's footsteps by continuing his baseball career with the Gophers. Abrahamson is expected to play a corner infield or outfield position in college, but no matter where he plays, Russell has no doubts about his abilities.
"He has great hands, a great arm, he's rock-solid all the way around," Russell said. "But more importantly, he's the kind of kid you want your daughter to marry. They don't come any better than that kid."
Abrahamson hit .452 this spring with 11 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs and 49 RBI for the Titans (19-5). His three-year career stats are .449, 36 doubles, three triples, 19 homers and 101 RBI.
The biggest uptick this season was home runs. His 13 round-trippers set a school record. "In Ryan's sophomore year he hit a lot of doubles and last year he hit a lot of doubles again, so you think sooner or later these balls have got to leave the yard," Russell said. "And as he began to grow bigger and stronger, everything he hits he elevates, and he hits so well to both sides of the field. It doesn't really matter where you pitch him, he's going to put a charge into it.
"It was almost like being a fan down in the third base coaching box, watching him. When he was on, there was nobody better. It was a thrill to watch him."
Abrahamson, who also played hockey at Tartan, said the best thing about high school baseball had nothing to do with statistics or postseason honors. It was all about the experiences he shared with his buddies.
"That's really what high school baseball's all about, playing with your friends," he said. "There's really isn't one game or one year that stands out, but all three years. There's been a great group of guys, and it's been a great experience."
METRO PLAYER OF THE YEAR RYAN ABRAHAMSON • TARTAN SENIOR SHORTSTOP[/B]
Ryan Abrahamson doesn't care about the spotlight or statistics, and according to his baseball coach at Tartan High School, the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year doesn't truly realize how much talent he has.
Last Friday, in anticipation of this week's Major League Baseball draft, the Twins invited Abrahamson to take batting practice at the Metrodome. Later that day, Tartan coach Curt Russell called Abrahamson. The conversation went like this:
"How did it go?"
"It went all right coach, thanks."
"Hit any lasers?"
"I hit a few."
"What does that mean?"
"I hit a few out."
"What does that mean?"
"I hit five or six out."
One of those homers, with Abrahamson using a wooden bat for the first time, landed about 25 rows deep in left-center. Also taking swings that day was Gophers infielder Derek McCallum, who was drafted by the Twins in the fourth round Wednesday.
After seeing McCallum, Abrahamson told Russell: "Coach, he can hit. He hits everything hard." The coach replied, "Look in the mirror, buddy."
Abrahamson, a 6-4 power-hitting shortstop, is set to follow in McCallum's footsteps by continuing his baseball career with the Gophers. Abrahamson is expected to play a corner infield or outfield position in college, but no matter where he plays, Russell has no doubts about his abilities.
"He has great hands, a great arm, he's rock-solid all the way around," Russell said. "But more importantly, he's the kind of kid you want your daughter to marry. They don't come any better than that kid."
Abrahamson hit .452 this spring with 11 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs and 49 RBI for the Titans (19-5). His three-year career stats are .449, 36 doubles, three triples, 19 homers and 101 RBI.
The biggest uptick this season was home runs. His 13 round-trippers set a school record. "In Ryan's sophomore year he hit a lot of doubles and last year he hit a lot of doubles again, so you think sooner or later these balls have got to leave the yard," Russell said. "And as he began to grow bigger and stronger, everything he hits he elevates, and he hits so well to both sides of the field. It doesn't really matter where you pitch him, he's going to put a charge into it.
"It was almost like being a fan down in the third base coaching box, watching him. When he was on, there was nobody better. It was a thrill to watch him."
Abrahamson, who also played hockey at Tartan, said the best thing about high school baseball had nothing to do with statistics or postseason honors. It was all about the experiences he shared with his buddies.
"That's really what high school baseball's all about, playing with your friends," he said. "There's really isn't one game or one year that stands out, but all three years. There's been a great group of guys, and it's been a great experience."