WINNIPEG GOLDEYES DAILY CLIPPINGS

THURSDAY, JULY 25th, 2019

- AirHogs Grounded—Winnipeg Sun, 7/25/19 - King ‘K’: McGovern Sets Franchise Record in Win Over AirHogs—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Steve Schuster), 7/24/19 - July 24th Game Highlights (Video Link)—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Jason Young), 7/24/19 - July 24th Postgame Interviews (Video Link)—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Nigel Batchelor), 7/24/19 - Goldeyes All-Stars Help North Division Rise to Victory—Winnipeg Sun, 7/25/19 - North Bests South 7-3, RailCats Willis Named MVP—St. Paul Saints (Sean Aronson), 7/23/19 - It’s the Summer of Glove For the American Association—Winnipeg Sun, 7/24/19 - A Big Fish—Winnipeg Sun, 7/23/19 - Former Goldeyes Catcher Helped T-Bones —Winnipeg Sun, 7/21/19 - Goldeyes Sign Former Yankees Farmhand—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Steve Schuster), 7/20/19 - Big Bat, Huge Personality—Winnipeg Free Press (Mike McIntyre), 7/20/19

AIRHOGS GROUNDED WINNIPEG SUN – THURSDAY, JULY 25th The Winnipeg Goldeyes beat the Texas AirHogs 7-2 at Shaw Park on Wednesday night.

The Goldeyes took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when newcomer Carlos Garcia hit a solo home run in his first at bat.

Tyler Hill scored on a wild pitch in the fifth. Winnipeg opened a 5-0 lead later in the inning on an RBI single from Willy Garcia and a two-run double from Dominic Ficociello.

The AirHogs pulled within 5-2 in the sixth on a two-run single by Javion Randle.

Winnipeg responded with single runs in the sixth and seventh. Christian Torres and Tyler Garkow combined for four shutout innings of relief to close out the game.

Kevin McGovern earned the win, allowing two earned runs over five-plus innings. McGovern struck out three, which moved him past Chris Salamida for the club’s all-time record.

WP: McGovern (9-4) LP: Lemond (0-9) SV: n/a HR: WIN C. Garcia (1)

THE SKINNY: Kevin McGovern improved to 9-4 and set the Goldeyes’ franchise strikeout record as the Goldeyes began their post-all-star break scheduled with a 7-2 win over the Texas AirHogs.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: New shortstop Carlos Garcia homered in his first at bat and reached base four times in five trips.

PLAY OF THE GAME: McGovern passed Chris Salamida with his second strikeout of the night, fanning Luo Jinjun on an 0-2 count.

UP NEXT: The Goldeyes and AirHogs continue their three-game series Thursday at Shaw Park. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on 93.7 FM.

KING ‘K’: MCGOVERN SETS FRANCHISE STRIKEOUT RECORD IN WIN OVER AIRHOGS STEVE SCHUSTER – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – WEDNESDAY, JULY 24th WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (34-27) beat the Texas AirHogs 7-2 at Shaw Park on Wednesday night.

New shortstop Carlos Garcia hit a solo home run to left with one out in the bottom of the first to give the Goldeyes a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the second, Goldeyes’ starting pitcher Kevin McGovern struck out Luo Jinjun on an 0-2 count to set the club’s all-time record for . It was McGovern’s 436th in a Goldeyes’ uniform, passing the 435 punch outs recorded by Chris Salamida from 2010-14.

Winnipeg extended the lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth. Tyler Hill led off with a double to right-centre. Two wild pitches during an eventual walk to Carlos Garcia ushered home Hill. After Kyle Martin walked with one out, Willy Garcia lined a single to centre that scored Carlos Garcia. Dominic Ficociello capped the rally with a two-run double to left-centre.

The AirHogs (15-46) pulled within 5-2 in the top of the sixth on a two-run single from Javion Randle. Texas brought the tying run to the plate with no outs, but Christian Torres relieved McGovern and worked out of the inning without any further runs. Torres finished the night with three shutout innings of relief.

The Goldeyes tacked on a sixth run in the bottom of the sixth when Martin hit a two-out, bloop single to centre that scored Kevin Garcia.

In the bottom of the seventh, Hill hit a sacrifice fly to left that scored Reggie Abercrombie. It was Abercrombie’s 530th run in the American Association, which is a new league career record.

Tyler Garkow worked a perfect top of the ninth to close out the win.

McGovern (9-4) picked up the win, allowing two earned runs on five hits in five-plus innings. McGovern walked two and struck out three.

Zech Lemond (0-9) started for the AirHogs and took the loss, allowing five earned runs on eight hits in four and one-third innings. Lemond walked five and struck out none.

Game two of the three-game series is Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. Joel Seddon (2-3, 7.09) faces right-hander Kevin Hilton (3-6, 3.97). Advance tickets are on sale now by visiting www.goldeyes.com/tickets or by visiting the box office at Shaw Park.

For information on 2019 season tickets, 10-game mini packs, and group tickets, call the Goldeyes’ office at (204) 982-BASE, or visit the Goldeyes’ official website at www.goldeyes.com

VIDEO: JULY 24th GAME HIGHLIGHTS JASON YOUNG – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – WEDNESDAY, JULY 24th LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf_ifUHI3EU

VIDEO: JULY24th POSTGAME INTERVIEWS NIGEL BATCHELOR – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – WEDNESDAY, JULY 24th LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLcE4_FNg-Y

GOLDEYES ALL-STARS HELP NORTH DIVISION RISE TO VICTORY WINNIPEG SUN – THURSDAY, JULY 25th All three of the Goldeyes’ representatives showed well at the American Association All-Star Game at CHS Field in St. Paul on Tuesday night.

Wes Darvill, Mitchell Lambson, and Victor Capellan all contributed to the North Division’s 7-3, come-from-behind victory.

Darvill had two RBI, and may have been named MVP had it not been for a late two-run single from Gary SouthShore RailCats’ outfielder Colin Willis.

Lambson was the first pitcher ushered in from the pen, and helped stem the tide in the opening inning. The left-hander worked two-thirds of a scoreless frame after the South had put two runs on the board.

Capellan struck out two batters in a scoreless top of the ninth to close out the event.

“I’m glad those guys got to play in the game,” said Goldeyes’ manager Rick Forney. “Lambson came in when things weren’t going too well for the North Division, and was able to get them out of the inning. Wes played the whole game, and was fantastic on defence. ‘Cappy’ was able to pitch the ninth. I made sure to send (St. Paul Saints’ manager) George (Tsamis) a message thanking him for giving my guys an opportunity, and for giving ‘Cappy’ the opportunity to pitch the ninth inning.

“George could have easily pitched his own guy (closer Todd Van Steensel) in the ninth,” Forney added, but he chose to give Victor that opportunity. It means a lot to me, and I think it says a lot about how George feels about Victor, and the respect Victor has earned in this league.”

GOLDEYES SIGN VETERAN GARCIA The Goldeyes added veteran infielder Carlos Garcia prior to Wednesday’s game against Texas.

Garcia hit .275 in 76 games for the Atlantic League’s Lancaster Barnstormers in 2018, and was 21-for-24 in stolen base attempts.

The Venezuelan-born Garcia has reached the Double-A level with two different Major League organizations (Kansas City and San Francisco), and joins the Goldeyes with a lifetime .346 on-base percentage in 10 professional seasons.

Garcia has averaged an impressive 47 stolen bases per 162 games played during his career, and swiped 50 in 2010 while playing for the Royals’ Dominican Summer League affiliate.

The 27-year-old played shortstop last night, but has the versatility to play second, third, and all three outfield positions.

CAPTAIN CANADA Garcia’s arrival coincides with the departure of Wes Darvill, who will represent the Canadian National Team at the upcoming Pan-Am games in Peru.

Darvill helped Team Canada win their berth during a qualifying tournament in Brazil this past January. The Goldeyes’ all-star showed well enough to earn a spot on the main roster, and is expected to be a member of the starting lineup.

“It’s important for Wes to take advantage of this opportunity and represent his country,” said Forney. “Hopefully that means he gets a spot in the World Classic qualifier, and maybe even get to play in the World Baseball Classic in the spring. It’s a great opportunity for him.”

The baseball portion of the Pan-Am games is scheduled to run from July 27th through August 4th.

As a teenager, Darvill played for the Canadian Junior National Team.

Goldeyes’ outfielder Willy Garcia is expected to depart for the games later this week, and will play for the Dominican National Team.

NORTH BESTS SOUTH 7-3, RAILCATS WILLIS NAMED MVP SEAN ARONSON – ST. PAUL SAINTS – TUESDAY, JULY 23rd ST. PAUL, MN (July 23, 2019) – The top players in the American Association squared off at CHS Field for the 2019 American Association All-Star Game. The South scored the first three runs of the game, but it was the North that scored the final seven and the lone representative from the Gary SouthShore RailCats, Colin Willis, took home MVP honors as the North downed the South 7-3.

St. Paul Saints starter Eddie Medina got the start in front of the home crowd, but it was Sioux City Explorers shortstop Nate Samson that greeted him with a lead off double to right-center. Cleburne Railroader Chase Simpson followed that with a two-run blast to right-center giving the South a 2-0 lead. Medina would strike out Cody Regis and then depart the game. Winnipeg Goldeye’s lefty Mitchell Lambson walked the first batter he faced and then retired the next two hitters to end the inning.

The then got into a groove as Kansas City T-Bones ace Tommy Collier retired the side in order in the bottom of the first.

Chicago Dogs lefty Luke Westphal and Kevin Hilton from the Texas AirHogs retired the side in order in their respective halves of the second.

In the third, T.J. House of the Milwaukee Milkmen faced the minimum while getting a strikeout. In the bottom half Taylor Hill of the Sioux Falls Canaries got out of trouble. He walked the leadoff hitter, the Saints Jeremy Martinez and, with two outs, gave up a double to Saints outfielder Dan Motl that put runners at second and third. House got Wes Darvill of the Goldeyes to ground out to first to end the inning.

In the fourth the teams traded runs as Angel Ventura of the Dogs gave up a one out double to John Nester of the Railroaders. The league’s leading hitter, Alay Lago of the Sioux Falls Canaries, doubled to right-center driving home Nester giving the South a 3-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth Lincoln Saltdogs reliever Austin Boyle gave up a leadoff double to the Saints Brady Shoemaker. He moved to third on a single to center by Chicago’s Keon Barnum. After a strikeout, Leo Pina of the RedHawks drove in Shoemaker with a groundout to short putting the North on the board making it 3-1.

The North pitchers shut it down from the fifth inning on. RedHawks starter Sebastian Kessay pitched a scoreless fifth, giving up a one out single to Samson and walking Simpson, but he retired the next two hitters to end the inning.

In the bottom of the inning the North got to within one as Tyler Fallwell of the Explorers gave up a leadoff single to left to the Saints Josh Allen. Motl then hit a ball to center the went off the glove of Zach Nehrir of Cleburne that put runners at second and third. Darvill singled home Allen making it 3-2. Fallwell struck out the next to hitters ending the inning.

The Saints Todd Van Steensel gave up a one out single in the sixth to Lago, but retired the next two hitters on groundouts to short.

In the bottom of the sixth the North tied it up off Explorers reliever Matt Pobereyko as Chicago’s Victor Roache clubbed a solo shot to left.

In the seventh, the RedHawks Geoff Broussard walked Simpson with two outs, but struck out Cody Regis of Lincoln to end the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh the North took their first lead of the game off of Explorers reliever Nate Gercken. T.J. Bennett of Lincoln led off with a single to right and Willis followed with a double putting runners at second and third. A groundout to short by Darvill scored Bennett giving the North a 4-3 lead. A wild pitch scored Willis making it 5-3.

In the eighth, Myles Smith of the Milkmen hit Mike Hart of the Canaries, but got Roy Morales of the T-Bones to ground into a double play and then got Lago to ground out to third.

In the bottom of the eighth Tyler Wilson of Cleburne started the inning, but walked three straight hitters with one out. Then Willis dropped a two-run single into right giving the North a 7-3 lead. Wilson departed for his teammate, Jesus Sanchez. He got Darvill to line out and Manuel Boscan of Milwaukee to strikeout to end the inning.

In the ninth, Goldeyes closer Victor Capellan finished it off. He walked Randolph Oduber of Lincoln to lead off the inning, but fanned Nehrir and Kevin Taylor of Sioux Falls looking. Capellan ended the game on a line out to third off the bat of Samson.

Broussard received the win and Gercken took the loss. Willis went 2-2 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in winning the MVP.

IT’S THE SUMMER OF GLOVE FOR THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION WINNIPEG SUN – WEDNESDAY, JULY 24th The American Association continues to defend at an historic rate.

With 11 of the 12 clubs having played at least 60 of their 100 regular-season games, it would be fair to say the league has broken through any effects of a small sample size.

Yet, eight teams head into the all-star break with a fielding percentage of .978 or higher.

In the first 13 years of the American Association, only 14 of the 151 teams finished at .978. The Goldeyes’ .989 mark is on pace to shatter the league record of .982 set by the 2017 Lincoln Saltdogs.

Sioux Falls Canaries manager Mike Meyer, who has been a part of either the Northern League or American Association since 2004, says the improvement has been very noticeable.

“It’s been significantly better,” Meyer said on the league’s overall defence.

“There’s ‘web gems’ all over the place every night. At times in the past in our league, each roster would have two or three DHs on the field, which is great for the lineup, but it really kills you defensively.

“The calibre of play in our league is as good as it’s ever been in my opinion,” Meyer added. “You have true shortstops playing short that are also pretty good offensively. You have guys playing positions that they’re comfortable with on the field.”

OLD AND NEW SCHOOL Kansas City T-Bones pitcher Kenny Koplove has merged different philosophies when it comes to training.

In the off-season, Koplove utilized modern technology to better understand his arm and how to make it stronger.

While Koplove has embraced cutting-edge training methods, the right-hander believes that old school approaches cannot simply be discarded.

“There’s a place for (analytics) in baseball and there’s also a place for traditionalism,” Koplove said. “You use analytics as a tool where it’s not the ‘be all, end all.’ At the same time, you can’t ignore them. They’re part of the game now. Whether it’s spin rate and spin axis for pitchers, or exit velocity and launch angle for hitters, it’s changed the game. You look at (the major leagues) this year, and the amount of home runs and strikeouts are astronomical. That’s being attributed to analytics.”

Koplove throws from three different arm angles, sometimes even changing his release point from pitch to pitch. Executing various arm slots in a game setting is a prime example of where Koplove finds more ‘feel’ and less thinking is most beneficial.

“I just try to be athletic as possible,” Koplove said on changing arm angles. “If I think about it more, I struggle with it and become robotic. So when I’m throwing sidearm, I just tell my catcher to give me a target and let me throw it to that.”

UP NEXT The Goldeyes return from the two-day all-star break tonight and play host to the Texas AirHogs at 7:05 p.m.

Winnipeg has not seen Texas since the season-opening series, in which the Goldeyes won three of four games.

While the AirHogs have the worst record in the league at 15-45, Chris Bando’s club is riding a season-high four-game winning streak. Prior to the break, Texas swept the Lincoln Saltdogs in a three-game set that included an 18-2 thumping on Friday night. Kevin McGovern starts for the Goldeyes. The game can be heard on 93.7 FM.

A BIG FISH WINNIPEG SUN – TUESDAY, JULY 23rd American Association managers and coaches will leverage every resource and connection available to them when trying to build a roster in the off- season.

The recruitment process can involve studying video of a players’ past performance, combing through professional and college statistics, or cross checking reports with scouts and coaches.

Building a rapport with the player himself can be an equally effective tool throughout the process.

Longtime Goldeyes’ hitting coach Tom Vaeth, who helps Forney build the roster each winter, understands that getting to know the player through conversation is essential.

Wes Darvill will start at shortstop for the North Division All-Stars tonight. When Darvill first signed with Winnipeg in 2016, the British Columbia native was coming off a season in which he batted .184.

Through talking with Darvill that off-season, Vaeth realized Darvill’s competitive nature and athleticism were worth taking a chance on.

“We didn’t know a lot about Wes (in 2016),” Vaeth said. “We had spoken a couple of times, and I knew the agent. I just had a really good vibe about Wes. I thought he would be a really good player for us. I remember picking up the phone and saying, ‘Rick, I’m signing this guy. I’ve got a good feeling.’ The rest is history with what Wes has been able to do in his time as a Goldeye.”

Darvill was an integral member of Winnipeg’s back-to-back championships in 2016 and 2017, and tonight marks his second all-star selection in a Goldeyes’ uniform.

Starting pitcher Parker French led the High-A California League with a 2.85 ERA in 2016, but had finished at 6.37 and 7.95 each of the next two years at Double-A.

French has rebounded this season, and has allowed three or fewer earned runs in seven of his 11 starts.

Once again, Vaeth trusted his instinct and saw the characteristics of someone that would be a good fit for the Goldeyes. In addition to his reliability on the mound, French has been lauded for his work ethic, preparation, and clubhouse demeanor.

“I must have talked with Parker five different times before we ever discussed coming to Winnipeg,” said Vaeth. “You see the success he had early in his career, and you see the struggles he’s had recently. Guys like that don’t just forget how to pitch, so you just have to talk with them, develop a relationship, and try to get a feel for the kid himself.”

“I really got a strong feeling that Parker wanted to compete,” Vaeth concluded. “He wanted to prove that the last two years were behind him, and he could be the dominant pitcher he was in the California League a couple of years ago. When you’ve got a guy like that who really has something to prove, and wants to play independent ball for the opportunity, you’re usually getting a pretty good find. After about the fifth of sixth conversation, it was kind of like Wes. I just said, ‘we need to sign this guy.’”

WELCOME ABOARD Newcomer Justin Kamplain earned the win in relief in his Goldeyes’ debut Sunday at Kansas City.

The hard-throwing left-hander pitched two scoreless innings with two strikeouts as the Goldeyes took the rubber match of the three-game series 5-4.

“We had good reports on him,” said Goldeyes’ manager Rick Forney. “We’ve been looking for some arms. He just worked out for the (Washington) Nationals last week, and was 90-94 (miles per hour) with a good breaking ball and command to both sides of the plate. He’s anxious to get out there and compete, so we’re going to give him that opportunity.”

FORMER GOLDEYES CATCHER HELPED T-BONES PITCHER WINNIPEG SUN – SUNDAY, JULY 21st Right-hander Kenny Koplove started for the Kansas City T-Bones on Saturday night.

The 25-year-old finished third in the Can-Am League last season with a 2.61 ERA, and helped the Sussex County Miners capture their first championship.

In what proved to be the championship-clinching Game 4 of the Can-Am final, Sussex County trailed the Quebec Capitales 5-3 in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs and no one on base, a pair of singles set up a walk-off, three-run home run from Miners third baseman Martin Figueroa.

“It was an incredible ending,” said Koplove who was 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA during the playoffs. “You get to that final game and you’re down by two going into that inning. Next thing you know, Figueroa hits the ball, and it’s an unbelievable moment where you don’t really know what just happened. Then everything comes to, and you see Figueroa sprinting around the bases screaming. You’re just like: ‘Wow this is pretty incredible.’”

The Philadelphia native also built a strong relationship with a former Goldeyes legend. Luis Alen, who spent seven years in Winnipeg and is the franchise’s career leader in base hits, was the primary catcher for Koplove and the Miners’ pitching staff.

“Luis was the captain of the team from Day 1,” Koplove said. “He was the guy who introduced everybody. When you get to independent ball, you don’t really know what to expect, and Luis took me right underneath his arm.

“He was the first catcher I ever had who called my game to the point where I said: ‘I’m not going to shake him off,’ ” added Koplove. “Whatever he thought was probably better than what I thought. And as a person, he’s an amazing guy. You really can’t beat him.”

Off-season training can be a challenge during the winter months for baseball players such as Koplove who live and grew up in the northeastern United States.

Several months ago, Koplove’s father, Steve, reverse-engineered a HitTrax unit to help Kenny more accurately assess his winter throwing routine. Batters use HitTrax to measure process-based elements of their swing such as exit velocity and launch angle.

The repurposed HitTrax was rigged up in a basketball gym, and while a computer never can fully replicate the feel of throwing on an actual field, Koplove was able to develop a better understanding of his arm strength and rate of exertion.

“My dad had a HitTrax and knows the guys at HitTrax very well,” said Koplove. “We wanted to know why we couldn’t use it as a throwing machine. We couldn’t get outside, it’s snowing, and everybody in the Northeast is indoors. We were at a disadvantage. So he called them up and had them recalibrate it for us. It’s an amazing little tool. I used it pretty much every single day, and now we have kids coming in to use it.”

GOLDEYES SIGN KAMPLAIN The Goldeyes signed left-handed pitcher Justin Kamplain prior to their game in Kansas City on Saturday. Kamplain struck out 73 batters in just 66.2 innings last year at two levels of the New York Yankees’ organization.

Drafted by the Yankees in the 14th round in 2014 out of the University of Alabama, Kamplain was part of a combined no-hitter in 2015 while pitching for the New York-Penn League’s Staten Island Yankees.

GOLDEYES SIGN FORMER YANKEES FARMHAND STEVE SCHUSTER – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – SATURDAY, JULY 20th WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes signed left-handed pitcher Justin Kamplain on Saturday.

Kamplain was a combined 3-2 with one save and a 4.59 ERA in 32 relief appearances last season at two levels of the New York Yankees’ organization. Kamplain combined for 78 strikeouts in 66.2 innings (9.9 strikeouts per nine innings) for the Double-A Eastern League’s Trenton Thunder and the High-A Florida State League’s Tampa Tarpons. Kamplain allowed just one home run all season.

Kamplain was drafted by the Yankees in the 14th round in 2014 out of the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, Alabama). The 26-year-old left-hander was 7-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 15 starts for the Crimson Tide during his junior season leading p to his draft selection. After striking out 46 batters in 43.2 innings during his rookie professional campaign, Kamplain finished second in the Low-A South Atlantic League with 119 strikeouts in 2015. On July 29th, 2017, the Jasper, Alabama native recorded the final eight outs and picked up the save in a combined no-hitter while pitching for the Short Season-A New York-Penn League’s Staten Island Yankees.

Additionally, the Goldeyes released right-handed pitcher Marcus Crescentini on Friday. The Goldeyes’ active roster stands at 22 players.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes play game two of a three-game series against the Kansas City T-Bones tonight at T-Bones Stadium. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. All the action can be heard locally on 93.7 FM and worldwide at www.cjnu.ca Coverage begins at 6:00 p.m. with Around the Association.

The Goldeyes return home on Wednesday, July 24th when they host the Texas AirHogs at Shaw Park. Advance tickets are on sale now by visiting www.goldeyes.com/tickets or by visiting the box office at Shaw Park.

For information on 2019 season tickets, 10-game mini packs, and group tickets, call the Goldeyes’ office at (204) 982-BASE, or visit the Goldeyes’ official website at www.goldeyes.com

BIG BAT, HUGE PERSONALITY MIKE MCINTYRE – WINNIPEG FREE PRESS – SATURDAY, JULY 20th You likely know his name, regardless of whether you are a die-hard baseball fan or not.

After all, Reggie Abercrombie has cemented himself as a local sporting icon, re-writing the American Association history books while becoming one of the most popular and longest-tenured players to ever put on a Winnipeg Goldeyes uniform.

Now in his 20th professional season — and sixth in River City — the finish line is in sight. After years of teasing retirement, this really looks to be it for the 39-year-old with the big swing, smile and personality.

Abercrombie is expected to hang up his cleats for good once the final out is recorded in September and head back home to Maryland where family and a full-time job in the "real world" await.

The humble Abercrombie would prepare to go quietly. But the impact he’s made is worth noting, and the hole he’ll leave behind — for the Goldeyes organization and the community in general — will be enormous.

As much as Abercrombie’s on-field accomplishments are obvious, there’s plenty you don’t know about the man who has recorded more hits, home runs and RBI than any player in league history while also serving as a mentor and role model to many youths.

Before his time in Winnipeg comes to an end, here’s an in-depth look at one of the most unique athletes this city has ever seen — from a modest upbringing, his emergence as a top prospect in high school, his rise and subsequent fall in , the famous friends he still keeps and how and why he became a mainstay in independent ball, where low pay and marathon bus travel typically chase players much younger than him from the sport.

The timing couldn’t have been better for Dorotha Abercrombie’s annual summer trip.

Her son was slumping badly when she arrived in St. Paul, Minn., last weekend to see him play in person for the first time this season — and perhaps the final time ever.

Stuck in a terrible rut at the plate in which his average was on the verge of dipping below .200, Abercrombie showed there’s still some life left in his bat during a three-game series in which he had three hits, including a home run and two RBI.

"I think all he needs is just to see and talk to Mom. I try to encourage him to do things," said the woman known affectionately as "Dot," who flew in from Columbus, Ga.

"I’m very stressed when he’s down and not playing very well. I try to encourage him to keep hanging in there, it’s going to come, it’s going to come." A hug and a pep talk seemingly did the trick, just like it always has since Abercrombie first picked up a bat as a child.

"That always picks up my spirits. When I see my family, I don’t think about anything else. I don’t think about struggling. I just go out and try to have fun, I think about when I was younger and getting to see them in the stands and know I’m going to do better," said Abercrombie.

Dot and her husband, James, didn’t always have it easy raising three children in Georgia. Money was tight, and trouble often seemed to be lurking around the corner in the neighbourhood, especially for young Reggie. James worked long hours at a local peanut factory, while Dot was working as a medical assistant.

"I was always the kid being bad, being mean, getting in trouble," Abercrombie admitted.

But he and his two older sisters, LaToya and Lisa, learned to appreciate the value of family, which included plenty of aunts, uncles and cousins who were always present in their lives and kept them on the straight and narrow.

"It was like a little village. Everybody took part in molding and shaping who we are today," said LaToya, who still lives in Columbus with her three children who all adore "Uncle Reggie."

She knew her brother was destined for big things, even at a young age. He had all the physical tools, plus a drive and determination that couldn’t be taught.

"He has a love and a drive for the game. If he messed up in the game, he was the kid who gave the extra gusto. He’d be out in the yard saying ‘I need you to catch for me,’ and I’d be like ‘Dude, you’re throwing 80 miles an hour!’" she said.

Abercrombie dominated in Little League and was seen as a can’t-miss prospect by the time he attended Columbus High School, where he was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 23rd round in 1999.

"It was a proud moment, for him and for us, to make it. There’s a lot who don’t make it, of course. So it was a very very powerful thing for him," said Dot. "He’s always loved baseball since he was about five when I put him in T-ball. That’s what keeps him going. He loves it. He would play for free." He had worked his way through the minor-league system — from rookie ball, to single-A, to Double-A.

And a future star in the making, Dontrelle Willis, couldn’t believe what he just saw as Abercrombie took him deep during their first head-to-head meeting in early 2003.

"Reggie hit one of the furthest balls I’d ever given up in the minor leagues. I was like ‘Wow,’ this guy’s the real deal. He’s fast, he’s strong. it came so effortless for him," said Willis, known to fans as the "D-Train."

"We hung out after the game and we made a bond after that, then we got in the big leagues and built off that bond."

Willis got his call to "The Show" later that season, which ended with a World Series championship with the Florida Marlins and winning the National League rookie-of-the-year award.

Abercrombie would ultimately be traded from the Dodgers to the Arizona Diamondbacks, then placed on waivers and picked up by the Marlins, who called him up for his MLB debut in 2006. Waiting for him was his old friend, Willis, where they spent two seasons together.

"He was a phenomenal teammate. Always happy, he annoyed me a lot, never had a bad day. He’s always happy, always enjoying being around the park and the fellas. You gotta have your head on a swivel because he’s always going to be doing something to mess with you — your shoe on fire, a pie in your face," said Willis, who retired in 2014 and now works as an analyst for Fox Sports.

Abercrombie and Willis have remained close over the years, along with a pair of other active major league players in Edwin Jackson (most recently with the ) and Miguel Cabrera (Detroit Tigers).

Willis isn’t surprised his old pal is still playing.

"This guy would come in the weight room. He was chiselled, and he’d be eating candy. I don’t think he’s ever eaten a salad before, he was a Greek god, it was a marvel to see how easy it came," said Willis.

Getting to the big leagues was one thing. Staying there was another. And Abercrombie, despite all the talent, simply couldn’t stick. The numbers didn’t lie, as he hit just .212 during the 2006 season and .197 during the 2007 campaign. He was sent down to Triple-A and eventually claimed on waivers by the Houston Astros, who gave him a brief look during the 2009 season as an injury replacement in which he hit an impressive .309 in 34 games. Yet he was demoted once they got healthy, and never got another chance.

In that sense, perhaps the numbers do lie.

Steve Shirley, a former MLB pitcher who began managing the Sioux Falls Canaries in 2006, remembers getting a phone call in early 2010 from an agency his team often dealt with for player recruitment.

"He said he had Reggie available. At the time, I told (the agent) I didn’t have much money. I knew who Reggie was and had looked him up. (The agent) said that’s not really that important, we’re looking for a good place for him to be," said Shirley.

He eventually spoke on the phone with Abercrombie, who had been cut loose by the Astros that winter and was now looking for a new landing spot, quite bitter at how it had all played out.

"I could just hear there wasn’t a lot of light in him in the conversation. A very polite young man, always treated me with the utmost respect. But I could tell there was something troubling him. So I asked him. He said ‘I feel like I’ve been lied to and I feel like I’m not having any fun in baseball any more,’" said Shirley.

"I told him ‘Reggie, I can’t promise you I can get you back into an organization, I can’t make promises to you I can’t keep, I just won’t do it, that’s not how I operate. But what I can tell you and promise me is if you come play for me, you will have fun.’"

Shirley wasn’t expecting to have Abercrombie around for long, believing another MLB club would soon come calling.

"I’m still amazed that didn’t happen, I truly am," said Shirley.

He recalls one game in particular where he had just re-joined the Canaries after a brief summer stint in a top Mexican league, driving most of the day to make it to the park in time for the game, where he hit a walk-off home run in the 11th inning.

Local media wanted to speak with Abercrombie post-game, but he couldn’t be found in the locker room. Turns out he was mingling with fans, taking photographs and signing autographs. The next morning he headed to a local hospital to visit sick children.

"From the second he got there, he showed himself to be an extraordinary person. Reggie’s unique. Reggie is one of the best teammates I’ve ever had in my locker room. He’s one of the best people that puts on a uniform every day," said Shirley.

"Our relationship became much more than player-manager. I consider him a great friend of mine. I love the guy to pieces."

Abercrombie spent four seasons with Sioux Falls, before both he and Shirley moved on from the organization. In Abercrombie’s case, it was off to Winnipeg to join the Goldeyes, a team he held in high regard.

"I always think about our first conversation. And he must have had fun, because he’s still playing. He wanted to play. He wanted to enjoy playing. He wanted to be a 12 year old kid again. We were able to help him find that 12 year old kid that was still in there, but had gotten lost by the callousness of the game," said Shirley.

They have been rivals, and they have been teammates. Through it all, they remain close friends.

And Josh Mazzola, who literally looks up to Abercrombie when it comes to several American Association records (he is second in both all-time home runs and RBI), said he’s proud to be in the same conversation.

"He’s one of the best teammates that I’ve had, and I’ve learned a lot from him," said the former Goldeyes slugger, who is currently playing for the Lincoln Saltdogs.

"I don’t know any other veteran in the league on the teams I’ve played on that helps unload the bus. Just stuff like that, he’s not bigger than the game, but he does everything the right way," he said.

Mazzola has his doubts Abercrombie is actually going to retire after this season, saying he expects him to "be playing until he’s 50."

"He suits it up every day and goes about his business the right way every day. I don’t think people realize how hard he works off the field to be able to do what he does. He truly leads by example when it comes to that," said Mazzola.

In a bottom-line business, there’s no question Abercrombie is good for the product. Abercrombie has become the face of the Goldeyes, one that team owner Sam Katz is going to miss dearly.

"Reggie is one-in-a million. There are so many reasons. It’s his attitude, how he treats people. He’s absolutely totally giving of himself," said Katz.

"He’s been to the show. He’s got so many records, it’s unbelievable. That attests to his longevity, but the longevity is there for so many reasons. He absolutely loves the game, he’s a workaholic, he takes care of himself, at his age he’s still one of the fastest on the team, which is amazing."

Katz is also going to miss the regular bear hugs he gets from Abercrombie.

"He’s friendly to everybody. It doesn’t make a difference who you are. You could be working in the box office, production, the field manager, the general manager, the owner. He treats you all with respect and love," said Katz.

"God blessed him with some phenomenal skills and he’s certainly used them, but more important than his skills is how he treats people, regardless of their station in life. Puts them up on a pedestal and makes them feel good. There’s a lot of great athletes, but that doesn’t mean they’re great men. He’s a great athlete, and he’s a great man."

Abercrombie helped the Goldeyes win back-to-back championships in 2016 and 2017, but said his biggest honour was winning the inaugural American Association’s Scott Miller/Brian Rose Man of the Year Award in 2016.

"That’s no. 1. Any time you can go out and have fun and give back to the community it’s fun for me. My mom and dad gave me everything, they tried their best. To give back to the community is a wonderful thing," said Abercrombie.

When her father, Jerry, died suddenly in 2016 – just days after a cancer diagnosis – Tara Maslowsky was shattered. And she’ll never forget how Abercrombie was there for her and her family in their darkest hour.

To her, Abercrombie the human being was even better than Abercrombie the baseball star.

"I’m very lucky and fortunate that he came into my life. He was my support system when my dad passed. We’re still the best of friends and talk every day," she said.

Maslowsky met Abercrombie while working in marketing and promotions for the Goldeyes, which she no longer does. She said his energy was infectious, and she marvelled at his ability to connect with young people whenever he’d do community clinics and talks around the province.

"He’d talk about how his upbringing wasn’t the greatest but he continued to work hard and follow his dreams," she said.

"And he’s a big little kid himself. He loves to have fun and make sure everyone else around him is having fun. He’s definitely one-of-a-kind. He’s one of the nicest, most humble, down-to-earth people I’ve ever met."

After the Goldeyes won the league title in September 2017 at Shaw Park, Abercrombie took the celebration to the crowd — posing for pictures and letting fans touch the trophy, including in the lobby of the stadium.

"He wanted everybody to feel as much a part of it as he did," she said. "That says a lot about him. He goes out of his way to make sure everybody is looked after and feels appreciated."

It definitely wasn’t love at first sight when it came to Tom Vaeth.

The long-time Goldeyes hitting coach admits he clashed with Abercrombie when he first came to town in 2014. In a nutshell, he couldn’t understand what he was doing at this level.

"We butted heads a lot. I knew the talent that was there," said Vaeth. "A lot of arguments and hard feelings back and forth. From my perspective, it was done out of love and out of respect for the ability I knew was there."

Building trust was also difficult in those early days, as Abercrombie put up some walls. But those eventually came down over time.

"Once he knew I wasn’t going to lie to him and be up front with him every day, good or bad, we really hit it off," said Vaeth.

Nobody works more closely with Abercrombie, as the two often put in extra time in the batting cages to work on flaws in his game.

"When he struggles I probably feel worse than he does. You just hope things start clicking for him. I know they will, I’m seeing it as we speak. He’s going to get hot here really soon, you can print that," said Vaeth.

Regardless of his average – he was batting .209 with five home runs and 31 RBI through the first 56 games of this season – Vaeth said it’s about so much more with Abercrombie, who is a career .293 hitter at this level.

"Reggie brings more to the clubhouse than any numbers he’s going to put up. He’s like another coach in the clubhouse. He’s unique. He has a lot of knowledge of the game," said Vaeth. "You get a kid who maybe got to double-A or triple-A and they come in with a bit of attitude and maybe think they’re bigger than this. You can’t do that when you’ve got Reggie in the clubhouse."

Yes, he’s taking a bit of extra time to stop and smell the roses this season. But don’t confuse it for some kind of sentimental farewell tour. Beneath it all, Abercrombie’s biggest priority is still winning.

"Still gotta go out here and grind, help us win a championship. I’ve been struggling a little bit, but it’s great when you’ve got guys that have been behind you all season, a manager and hitting coach working with you 24/7," said Abercrombie, who apologized to his teammates a few weeks ago for his recent stretch of play and letting some of his frustrations show.

"You can’t let them see you down. If they see you down, as a leader, then they’re gonna get down. I try to keep it even-keeled."

The long bus rides, especially considering Winnipeg is the northern outpost in the league, haven’t got any more enjoyable over time. And while Abercrombie is still one of the top paid players in the league, consider that the salary cap for an entire 23-man roster is $125,000 and do the math.

"It’s just the love of the game. I know you’re not gonna make a lot of money. Rick (Forney) has let me come back and deal with my ups and downs. I’ve been lucky to have two great managers, and Tom (Vaeth) has been right there with me, too. You can’t really ask for anything more," said Abercrombie.

Once it’s over, Abercrombie is looking forward to what’s next. That includes helping raise his nine-year-old son, Jacoby, who currently lives in Texas with his mother. He’ll settle in Maryland where his girlfriend and her children and live and go to work full-time for a company called ISM Connect, which uses technology to improve fan engagement at sports stadiums and concert venues across the United States.

He’ll also continue adding to his shoe collection, which currently stands at about 800 pairs. Yes, you read that right. Some people invest in stocks and bonds — Abercrombie prefers footwear.

"I got a problem. I could open up a shoe store or a museum," Abercrombie joked.

As for baseball, parting is definitely going to be sweet sorrow.

"This city means a lot to me. It’s a wonderful city to play in, wonderful people, wonderful fans. It’s just a great city to come back to and call my second home. I’m blessed to have this be my second home and play baseball as long as I have in a city like this," said Abercrombie.

"This game is pretty hard. But once you can fight through this you can fight through anything in life. Once you deal with failure you can do anything."