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Following one of his starts a little over a week ago, former University of Maine ace righthander Mike MacDonald of Camden was called into the manager’s office at Falcon Park in Auburn, N.Y.
But the news was not bad.
Auburn Doubledays manager Dennis Holmberg wanted to let the Toronto Blue Jays 15th-round draft pick know that he was moving on up – from short-season Single A ball in the New York-Penn League to the storied (low Single A) South Atlantic League and the Charleston (W. Va.) Alley Cats.
“I’m very excited. I was expecting to stay there [Auburn] for the whole summer,” MacDonald said. “Not many guys get a chance to move up this early.”
The 22-year-old Camden-Rockport High School graduate hasn’t yet pitched in his new home ballpark since the Alley Cats were on a nine-day road trip when he reported to them.
But he dazzled them in his first start as he allowed three hits over seven shutout innings while striking out five and walking one. The win makes him 5-0 in professional play.
While at Auburn, MacDonald went 4-0 with a 1.41 ERA in seven starts. He allowed 25 hits and six walks while notching 29 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings.
“I think my control has really improved,” said MacDonald, who credited an emphasis on letting his defense help him out. “That’s been the biggest adjustment I’ve made is not trying to strike everyone out.”
MacDonald is working on his mechanics and improving his consistency as he perfects his four-pitch repertoire (fastball, changeup, slider and curve).
“Our manager [Ken Joyce] lets us call our own games with the catchers. It’s pretty much an organizational thing,” MacDonald said. “So I’m learning how to read hitters and scout their tendencies.”
That’s important as opposing hitters are more selective and will make pitchers pay more often for mistake pitches.
“There’s more talent here, so I watch the games more intensely,” MacDonald said.
MacDonald’s new team has already qualified for the playoffs, so his season will last at least into the second week of September. After that, he may take part in Toronto’s three-week instructional session in Florida before heading back to Maine for the off-season.
Ironically, MacDonald isn’t the only one with that last name on his team. In fact, he’s not the only Mike with that last name as one of his teammates is 24-year-old Mike McDonald, who also happens to be a right-handed pitcher. He’s only one inch shorter and 20 pounds lighter than MacDonald.
Sox’s other Ramirez at Hadlock
If seeing the Portland Sea Dogs play and watching all the between-innings promotions isn’t enough to get you out to Hadlock Field in Portland, perhaps the presence of the top-ranked prospect in the Boston Red Sox organization is.
Hanley Ramirez, a 20-year-old switch-hitting shortstop, was promoted to Portland from Single A Sarasota last week and is hitting .294 with two RBIs and three stolen bases after eight games with the Dogs.
The native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic is rated the “best athlete” with the “best infield arm” in the Red Sox organization by Baseball America. He was the Sox player of the year for Lowell in 2002.
Ramirez showed off his bat Monday night when he belted a three-run homer to help the Sea Dogs defeat the Trenton Thunder 6-4 at Hadlock Field in Portland. Ramirez’s homer with two men aboard sent the Sea Dogs ahead 4-2 in the bottom of the second.
The loss moved the Thunder (53-61) into sole possession of last place in the Northern Division.
Portland starting pitcher Kason Gabbard (1-4) struck out three, walked three and gave up two runs on four hits over five innings to collect the win.
Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600 or at aneff@bangordailynews.net
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