Josh Pressley is all too familiar with adversity.

Despite being Tampa Bay’s 1998 fourth-round draft pick and a heralded Devil Rays prospect, the former Bangor resident and 1996 American Legion baseball Zone I Player of the Year has been toiling in the minors for eight seasons.

Last winter, he became a free agent and elected to sign with Kansas City, which assigned him to Double A affiliate Wichita (Kan.). After starting the season with a flourish, Pressley was suspended for 15 games after a banned substance was found in his system following a routine urinalysis test in May mandated by Major League Baseball’s new steroid-substance abuse policy.

“It wasn’t a steroid. It was something I took over the counter, either a supplement or an anti-inflammatory product,” he said. “I take full responsibility. I should have known what I was putting in my body and I didn’t bother to check.”

Pressley, who had offseason arthroscopic right knee surgery, said he came back from rehabilitation a month early and developed some pain and inflammation in his knee.

“I kind of had to push myself to get back early because I was a free agent and had to show teams I could play before I signed a deal,” said Pressley.

Almost three months later, the 25-year-old Pressley is not only relatively pain free, he’s also leading the team in batting average (.314), RBIs (81), and – ironically – home runs (21) after hitting two round-trippers in Tuesday night’s game.

“It’s kind of a joke in the clubhouse … Me coming back after the suspension and more than doubling the power totals I had before it,” he said.

Not only that, but Pressley is enjoying his finest minor league season overall, and especially in the power department. His previous season high for homers was nine. In fact, he had a seven-year career total of 27 entering this season.

And the knee?

“I feel like it’s back to 100 percent and I’m not taking anything for it … Except a lot of ice,” the 6-foot-6, 225-pound first baseman said with a chuckle.

So what does Pressley attribute his power surge to?

“Even though I’m a big guy, I’ve always been a guy who hit around .300 with a lot of doubles,” he said. “People told me to be patient and the home runs would come.

“Now they ask me what I’ve changed, and I think I’m a lot more mature with my approach at the plate. I might be a little more aggressive with two strikes and not worrying about striking out all the time.”

Pressley also credited getting off to a hot start this year and working with Wichita manager Frank White, a former All-Star second baseman for the Royals, and hitting coach Nelson Liriano.

“Something just clicked in my swing this year and I just hope I can figure out what it is,” he said.

Pressley’s two homers came at the best time. His Wranglers entered a three-game series with division leader Arkansas 21/2 games behind and are now bearing down on a playoff spot. Whether his and his team’s success will result in a September call-up by the Royals remains to be seen.

“I have no idea man. I just go out and play and try not to worry about it,” he said. “The organization we’re in… Anything’s possible. I haven’t heard anything, but we’ll see.”

The Royals recently ended a 19-game losing streak that made national headlines.

“It’s a tough thing to go through as an organization and you like to be in the news, but that’s not something you want to be in the news for,” he said.

Hall of Dogs

The Portland Sea Dogs and UnumProvident have teamed up to establish the Portland Sea Dogs Hall of Fame on the Hadlock Field concourse.

Inaugural nominees are former catcher Charles Johnson, shortstop Edgar Renteria, outfielder Billy McMillon, and relief pitcher Jay Powell along with non-player nominees Carlos Tosca (manager), the late Bob Ganley (Portland city manager), and John Boles (former Florida Marlins minor league director).

The first two inductees will be announced before Friday’s game. Both will be presented with a hall of fame plaque and a banner for each will be hung in the concourse.

Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600 or at aneff@bangordailynews.net