Matt Hague is keeping things in perspective.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
For someone in Hague\u2019s shoes, however, that might seem like a tall order. After all, the former Kentwood High baseball star is on the cusp of reaching the pinnacle of his craft.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
An injury here or a slump there, and Hague will find himself playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates, which are currently contending for a playoff berth for the first time since the early 1990s.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Yet, the corner infielder who is currently playing for the Indianapolis Indians, Pittsburgh\u2019s Triple-A affiliate, is too busy focusing on the present to spend much time wondering what the near future very well might hold.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI figure it will take care of itself,\u201d said Hague, a 2004 Kentwood High graduate who has played primarily first base for the Indians, but also has spent time at third base, as well. \u201cI am hoping I get some time (in the majors) this year. I have a chance to go up. Really, we will have to wait and see.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to get my hopes up.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
That could be a tough task for Hague, who has been mentioned recently as being a potential callup. However, the potential of an immediate callup became doubtful last week, when the Pirates traded for veteran first baseman Derrek Lee and optioned struggling Lyle Overbay to the minors.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s more on the periphery,\u201d Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. \u201cThere\u2019s other guys in front of him right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
To put Hague\u2019s position in perspective, it\u2019s worth noting that Kentwood High has never produced a major league baseball player. In fact, the last player from the area to reach the majors was Kentridge High product Mason Tobin, a Rule 5 selection by the Texas Rangers earlier this spring who logged 5 1\/3 innings pitched before suffering a season-ending elbow injury. The last position player from the area to reach the majors is Travis Ishikawa, a Federal Way High product and first baseman who spent last season with the San Francisco Giants. Ishikawa is currently on the roster of the Fresno Grizzlies, San Francisco\u2019s Triple-A affiliate.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
According to former Kentwood coach Jon Aarstad, what sets Hague apart from so many other area players who were drafted, but never reached the major league level, is his focus.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThat kid is a hard worker, and he\u2019s so focused,\u201d Aarstad said of Hague. \u201cHe is so much more focused on where he\u2019s going and what he wants than anybody I have seen. He\u2019s got the talent. He\u2019s just now putting it all together.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
No doubt about that.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
During a 10-game stretch in late June, Hague went 20 for 40 with four home runs, 10 runs batted in and 12 runs scored, further cementing himself as a prime target for a late-season call-up. The surge helped Hague land a spot on the International League All-Star team. Hague entered this week hitting .314 (fourth in the league) with nine home runs and 55 RBIs in 411 at-bats.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
As good as Hague has been, however, he isn\u2019t considered one of the organization\u2019s top prospects. As he approaches his 26th birthday (Aug. 20), Hague has surpassed the age that baseball insiders consider top-prospect status, a label typically reserved for anyone between the ages of 18 and 22.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
That said, Hague was listed by Baseball America as Pittsburgh\u2019s 29th overall prospect in the 2011 Prospect Handbook, which is published on an annual basis and charts each organization\u2019s top 30 minor league players.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Age remains one of the last thing on Hague\u2019s mind these days.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Instead, the sweet-swinging, 6-foot-3, 225-pounder is more concerned with the opportunity he is currently getting with Indianapolis.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, I am actually the average age of most of the players in (the International League),\u201d said Hague, a 2008 ninth-round pick out of Oklahoma State University. \u201cI\u2019ve progressed pretty well through the system. I have a great opportunity here with the Pirates to advance levels. (Age) is just one of those things. If it\u2019s meant to happen, it\u2019s meant to happen. I try not to think of age that much, but I know I\u2019m a little old.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
But Hague\u2019s current numbers are impossible to ignore. In fact, the former Conqueror has produced solid \u2013 if not spectacular \u2013 numbers every step of the way.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Last year, while playing for the Double-A Altoona Curve, Hague enjoyed a breakout campaign, hitting .295 with 15 home runs and 86 RBIs. Hague\u2019s numbers were a key reason the Curve won the Eastern League championship.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Yet, the numbers that might be most impressive come tied to Hague\u2019s plate discipline. He walked 61 times last year compared to just 62 strikeouts, statistics that compare favorably to current Seattle Mariners rookie sensation Dustin Ackley.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
It\u2019s an approach to hitting that Hague molded at a young age while playing in the Kent Little League.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always had a good strikeout-to-walk ratio,\u201d he said. \u201cI guess I\u2019ve always had that approach. It\u2019s something I\u2019ve worked on a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The biggest thing currently blocking Hague\u2019s path to big-league stardom is the recent acquisition of Lee, who will be depended upon during Pittsburgh\u2019s stretch run. That said, Hague should be in line for a callup in September, when rosters expand.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Despite the current situation, Hague remains confident and focused on the opportunity in hand. The former Kentwood High star believes it\u2019s just a matter of time before his big chance arrives \u2013 especially when considering teammates and close friends Alex Presley (outfield) and Chase d\u2019Arnaud (shortstop), two guys who came through the farm system with Hague, already have been called up this season.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all played together. We are close. And then you see them play on TV the next day,\u201d Hague explained. \u201cI hear stories. Obviously, I want to get there. But I also want to stay there.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI just have to stay focused.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
And, as Hague has done all this time, keep things in perspective.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
NAME\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 HS\/YEAR\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ORGANIZATION\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 LEVEL<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Cody Bartlett\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kentwood\/2006 \u00a0\u00a0 Toronto Blue Jays\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Rookie<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Notable:<\/strong> Bartlett, a shortstop who was drafted in the 41st round of the June draft, entered the week hitting .207 with 12 RBIs in 17 games played for the Bluefield Blue Jays.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n David Patton\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kentridge\/2002\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 None\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 —<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Notable:<\/strong> Patton, a right-hander who pitched for the Chicago Cubs in 2009, spent most of last season on the roster of the Daytona Cubs, one of the organization\u2019s Single-A affiliates. He was released and became a free agent in December.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Mason Tobin\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kentridge\/2004\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Texas Rangers\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Majors<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Notable:<\/strong> Tobin was picked up by the Chicago Cubs in December during the Rule 5 draft and promptly traded to Texas. A right-hander, Tobin made the Texas bullpen out of spring training, logged 5 1\/3 innings of work with the big club before suffering a season-ending injury in April. It was reported that Tobin was to have Tommy John surgery on his elbow and miss between 12 and 18 months.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Matt Hague is keeping things in perspective.<\/p>\n For someone in Hague\u2019s shoes, however, that might seem like a tall order. After all, the former Kentwood High baseball star is on the cusp of reaching the pinnacle of his craft.<\/p>\n An injury here or a slump there, and Hague will find himself playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates, which are currently contending for a playoff berth for the first time since the early 1990s.<\/p>\n Yet, the corner infielder who is currently playing for the Indianapolis Indians, Pittsburgh\u2019s Triple-A affiliate, is too busy focusing on the present to spend much time wondering what the near future very well might hold.<\/p>\n \u201cI figure it will take care of itself,\u201d said Hague, a 2004 Kentwood High graduate who has played primarily first base for the Indians, but also has spent time at third base, as well. \u201cI am hoping I get some time (in the majors) this year. I have a chance to go up. Really, we will have to wait and see.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":106,"featured_media":19489,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-19488","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kentreporter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19488"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kentreporter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kentreporter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kentreporter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/106"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kentreporter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19488"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.kentreporter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19488\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kentreporter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kentreporter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19488"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kentreporter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19488"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kentreporter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19488"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kentreporter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=19488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}