The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

AS the Minor League Baseball season got underway this month, several Bahamian baseball players are looking to make an impact and progress toward the majors.

Lucius Fox made his much anticipated professional debut with the Augusta Green Jackets in Augusta, Georgia, a Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

After an 0-3 start in game one, Fox had the best game of his young career in game two when he went 2-5 with a home run, two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. In nine games thus far, Fox is hitting .188 with nine runs scored, five stolen bases, an on-base percentage of .316 and an OPS of .628.

Fox, who signed the largest contract in Bahamian baseball history, is currently the Giants top prospect and began his minor league career in High-A in the South Atlantic League, rather than rookie ball.

The 6’2” 170-pound shortstop, was the most anticipated signing of the Giants International Prospect class last July.

This season also represents a new opportunity for Anferee Seymour in the Miami Marlins organisation.

Seymour, who starred for the rookie Batavia Muckdogs in the Gulf Coast League last season where he played in 64 games at shortstop with a batting average of .273, was called up earlier this month to the Single A Greensboro Grasshoppers, also in the South Atlantic League.

Seymour has moved up from the Marlins’ No.26 top prospect to No.13. He has struggled at the plate early, hitting just .053, but has five stolen bases and two RBI through 13 games this season.

“Where I was last year, there was no one to really play for,” said Seymour as he was quoted on the MLB website.

“So you really have to focus and get zoned in. Now that you have fans, you have something to play for - people cheering you on. It’s really fun and really makes you want to play every day. I didn’t know I had this many fans.”

Seymour also represented Batavia in the Mid-Season All-Star Classic, but is hoping to make a greater impact as he begins his Class A campaign with Greensboro.

“I’m getting used to it,” said Seymour about his playing time.

“Now, it’s more fun playing every day, playing under the lights, playing the game against real good competition. It feels good and I’m enjoying myself and working hard every day.”

In the Class A Advanced league, Champ Stuart continues his stint with the New York Mets organisation.

Through 14 games in the Florida State League, with the St.Lucie Mets, Stuart is hitting .241 with three RBI and five stolen bases.

He has also totalled an on-base percentage of .349 and an OPS of .738.

The four year veteran received the highlight of his career when he got the Major League call-up in spring training.

Stuart made an appearance as a pinch runner in the final Grapefruit League game for the Mets in a loss to the Washington Nationals.

Following an injury-plagued offseason, Antoan Richardson has returned to field and a new stop with the Pittsburgh Pirates organisation.

Richardson began the season on the roster of the Pirates Triple A affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians.

Richardson spent last season with the Texas Rangers before making the move to the Pirates.

“I signed with the The Pirates because they have been one of the top three teams in baseball the last couple of years and they looked like they had a lot of fun playing the game,” he said. “It was intriguing to see what their culture was about, and how I could fit into it.”