Say Hello To… Aaron Bates
Gather ’round, everyone, and meet your new first baseman: Aaron Bates.
In the wake of Jeff Bailey’s injury-forced move to the DL, the Red Sox made it official and called Aaron up this afternoon from AAA-Pawtucket, and he’ll start immediately tonight at 1B. Nothing like jumping in with both feet, eh?
Aaron is a Cali boy by way of Carolina: born and raised in California (as a die-hard Giants fan), he played two years of baseball for NC State before starting on his road through the Sox minor league system. He only got the call up to Triple-A for the first time at the beginning of last month, and has been blazing through the minors at almost every step of the way. He’s primarily been a first baseman, although he’s also recently played in the outfield as well.
Sox Prospects calls him a “slugger with high power potential” and notes he is a “hard worker with a professional demeanor, well liked and respected by his teammates [who] prepares well mentally and physically for each game.” Aaron used to do a kind of Sean Casey-esque leg kick at the plate — but dropped that on advice of his coaches who pointed out it was causing him problems in catching up to fastballs on the inside of the plate.
All of his actual baseball skills and other important stuff aside, I’m inclined to like him just for giving answers like this one to a question from Baseball Prospectus:
Q: If you found a magic lamp, and a baseball genie gave you three wishes, what would they be?
AB: For one, I’d love to run like Ichiro, because my batting average would go way up. With a weapon like his speed, your margin for error when you hit the ball is a lot different. Great hitters like Albert Pujols don’t beat out many infield hits, but Ichiro does. Second, I’d like to have the discipline of Barry Bonds. His ability to identify balls, and lay off pitches, is unparalleled. That’s a part of my game that is pretty solid, but he’s in another world. My third wish would be to have a long career with the Red Sox. I’d like to play for them for 15 or 16 years and win a couple of championships.
Welcome to Boston, Aaron – my advice would be to stay away from water coolers after a rough Papelbon outing, don’t use any towels after Youkilis has touched them, and prepare your ribs to be smashed in a patented Papi hug.
TWO debuts at Fenway tonight– I wish I was there.
Also, every time I see Aaron, he reminds me of some type of animal– but I can’t figure out which one. It’s bothering me lots.
@Avery: A lemur. It’s the eyes.
He seems like a decent enough fellow. I wish him all the best at Fenway tonight.
LOVE him already. Grew up a Giants fan. Thanks for the video, Texy! He is very well-spoken.
I love his three wishes and hope that no. 3 comes true.
@Avery: OK, being dumb, who’s the other debut???
@Avery: OK, being dumb, who’s the other debut??? Uhhhh, nevermind!
Aw, who doesn’t love a new puppy. Looks like they don’t have pictures of him OR Smoltzie for the Yawkey Way lineup display.
He grew up a Giants fan? That’s it, I’m declaring him as my favorite rookie now.
I jjust met Aaron’s aunt! She is as proud as an auntie can be.
@Mac: I beat you to him ;-)
ha…we can share.
6-4, 230 — I’m looking forward to seeing this big’un play!
Bates was hands down my favourite player to watch when the B-Mets played them earlier this season and that says a lot since they also had the likes of Anderson, Bell and Tazawa (and not to mention press box favourite Thirty Juan Apodaca). I don’t think I got any work done whenever he came up to bat.