renuszm
03-06-2003, 07:58 PM
http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/tor/news/tor_news.jsp?ymd=20030306&content_id=211940&vkey=spt2003news&fext=.jsp
Adams humble and impressive
By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Russ Adams has the complete skill set: athleticism, a strong work ethic and Major League maturity. Given some extra opportunities because of Toronto's injured infield, the shortstop has turned some heads during Spring Training, most notably that of Carlos Tosca, the team's manager.
"He just continues to show that he has tremendous feel for the game," Tosca said of Adams, Toronto's top pick in last June's First-Year Player Draft. "He's got great instincts, doesn't panic, he's fearless when he plays the game. Those are all qualities that make for a real good baseball player."
Adams is admittedly a few seasons away from breaking the big-league barrier, but Tosca and his coaching staff have been impressed with the way he goes about his business. Last October, during Instructional League, hitting coach Mike Barnett gave Adams some tips on things he needed to work on. The idea was that Adams would incorporate those instructions over the next year -- at least, that was the coaching staff's plan.
Adams did them one better by working tirelessly over the offseason and showed up in Spring Training doing exactly what the coaches wanted from him.
"Last year, at the end of the year, I struggled a little bit through the Florida State League, whether it was from being tired or developing some bad habits," Adams said. "I just went home and tried to take what they told me to heart. I think I got a lot done in that direction, but I'm not there yet."
He doesn't have to be a finished product just yet -- the Jays are set at shortstop, with Chris Woodward and Mike Bordick manning the crucial spot. Adams has time to grow and hone his substantial abilities, an effort that has been aided by a heavy dose of playing time in the last two weeks.
Woodward has been sidelined by a sore hamstring, so Adams and Bordick have gotten the vast majority of playing time. Adams said that he's learned a lot just by being around those two players -- even if he still has a long way to go.
"I've been able to watch their motions at short and the way they make certain plays, the way they handle certain situations," he said. "I've been watching them like a hawk now for a couple weeks, and it's been real good for me to see the level of play those guys are on. It gives me time to step back and see how I can get to that level.
"It doesn't just happen overnight -- number one pick or undrafted free agent, youve got to approach the game the same way, every day. That's what I try to do."
Adams came by that feeling naturally, but he could've absorbed it from Bordick and Woodward. Bordick was an undrafted free agent, and Woodward was selected in the 54th round. Both players have triumphed over modest beginnings by working tirelessly to improve their game, a fact that isn't lost on Adams.
The North Carolina native said that once he got over being in a Major League clubhouse, he actively sought out advice from the two veterans.
"When I got here, I was looking at them like, 'Can I approach these guys?' They've been great to me for the time I've been here and it's been a great experience. They're approachable and very willing to help -- it's been real good for me."
Tosca said that he's been around many first-round picks in the past, and that few have the maturity or humility that's ingrained in Adams. He said, generally speaking, that top picks tend to coast on their status as top prospects.
"I've been around a lot of number one picks -- usually, it takes them a little while to get over the number one pick thing," said Tosca, who managed in the minor leagues for 17 seasons. "This kid is just a baseball player. He's oblivious to any of that stuff. I'm pleasantly surprised by this kid, by his maturity and everything else that goes along with it."
True to his unassuming nature, Adams didn't expect to play nine innings in any Spring Training game, as he did on Thursday against the Indians. In all honesty, he just wanted to work on his game and soak up the Major League atmosphere for as long as he could.
"The only thing I wanted to do, once I got here, was enjoy the experience," he said. "When I got an opportunity to play, I wanted to take advantage of it. Have a good time, but remember that I'm here to prepare myself for the season."
Adams doesn't even know where he'll start this season, but there are two likely destinations. He'll probably start at Single-A Dunedin, Toronto's affiliate in the Florida State League. If he succeeds there for a month or so, he may make a quick jump to New Haven, Toronto's brand-new Double-A team.
Regardless of where he goes, Adams wants to make an immediate impact. That's one thing he's sure of, and he's pretty certain he knows how to make it happen.
"The most important thing is just to get comfortable and play with a lot of confidence, keep my body in shape," he said. "This is going to be my first full season and I know it's going to be a really long one. Just try to keep a steady pace, keep a level head and play hard every day -- that's about all you can do.
"I'm not sure where I'm going to start. I'm just looking forward to the next few weeks of Spring Training. When they send me wherever they're going to send me, I want to be ready to play."
Adams humble and impressive
By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Russ Adams has the complete skill set: athleticism, a strong work ethic and Major League maturity. Given some extra opportunities because of Toronto's injured infield, the shortstop has turned some heads during Spring Training, most notably that of Carlos Tosca, the team's manager.
"He just continues to show that he has tremendous feel for the game," Tosca said of Adams, Toronto's top pick in last June's First-Year Player Draft. "He's got great instincts, doesn't panic, he's fearless when he plays the game. Those are all qualities that make for a real good baseball player."
Adams is admittedly a few seasons away from breaking the big-league barrier, but Tosca and his coaching staff have been impressed with the way he goes about his business. Last October, during Instructional League, hitting coach Mike Barnett gave Adams some tips on things he needed to work on. The idea was that Adams would incorporate those instructions over the next year -- at least, that was the coaching staff's plan.
Adams did them one better by working tirelessly over the offseason and showed up in Spring Training doing exactly what the coaches wanted from him.
"Last year, at the end of the year, I struggled a little bit through the Florida State League, whether it was from being tired or developing some bad habits," Adams said. "I just went home and tried to take what they told me to heart. I think I got a lot done in that direction, but I'm not there yet."
He doesn't have to be a finished product just yet -- the Jays are set at shortstop, with Chris Woodward and Mike Bordick manning the crucial spot. Adams has time to grow and hone his substantial abilities, an effort that has been aided by a heavy dose of playing time in the last two weeks.
Woodward has been sidelined by a sore hamstring, so Adams and Bordick have gotten the vast majority of playing time. Adams said that he's learned a lot just by being around those two players -- even if he still has a long way to go.
"I've been able to watch their motions at short and the way they make certain plays, the way they handle certain situations," he said. "I've been watching them like a hawk now for a couple weeks, and it's been real good for me to see the level of play those guys are on. It gives me time to step back and see how I can get to that level.
"It doesn't just happen overnight -- number one pick or undrafted free agent, youve got to approach the game the same way, every day. That's what I try to do."
Adams came by that feeling naturally, but he could've absorbed it from Bordick and Woodward. Bordick was an undrafted free agent, and Woodward was selected in the 54th round. Both players have triumphed over modest beginnings by working tirelessly to improve their game, a fact that isn't lost on Adams.
The North Carolina native said that once he got over being in a Major League clubhouse, he actively sought out advice from the two veterans.
"When I got here, I was looking at them like, 'Can I approach these guys?' They've been great to me for the time I've been here and it's been a great experience. They're approachable and very willing to help -- it's been real good for me."
Tosca said that he's been around many first-round picks in the past, and that few have the maturity or humility that's ingrained in Adams. He said, generally speaking, that top picks tend to coast on their status as top prospects.
"I've been around a lot of number one picks -- usually, it takes them a little while to get over the number one pick thing," said Tosca, who managed in the minor leagues for 17 seasons. "This kid is just a baseball player. He's oblivious to any of that stuff. I'm pleasantly surprised by this kid, by his maturity and everything else that goes along with it."
True to his unassuming nature, Adams didn't expect to play nine innings in any Spring Training game, as he did on Thursday against the Indians. In all honesty, he just wanted to work on his game and soak up the Major League atmosphere for as long as he could.
"The only thing I wanted to do, once I got here, was enjoy the experience," he said. "When I got an opportunity to play, I wanted to take advantage of it. Have a good time, but remember that I'm here to prepare myself for the season."
Adams doesn't even know where he'll start this season, but there are two likely destinations. He'll probably start at Single-A Dunedin, Toronto's affiliate in the Florida State League. If he succeeds there for a month or so, he may make a quick jump to New Haven, Toronto's brand-new Double-A team.
Regardless of where he goes, Adams wants to make an immediate impact. That's one thing he's sure of, and he's pretty certain he knows how to make it happen.
"The most important thing is just to get comfortable and play with a lot of confidence, keep my body in shape," he said. "This is going to be my first full season and I know it's going to be a really long one. Just try to keep a steady pace, keep a level head and play hard every day -- that's about all you can do.
"I'm not sure where I'm going to start. I'm just looking forward to the next few weeks of Spring Training. When they send me wherever they're going to send me, I want to be ready to play."