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July 20, 2011

First rounder Hager eager for pro ball

By JONATHAN GREENE Bluefield Daily Telegraph

PRINCETON — It took Jake Hager 19 days since he was assigned to the Princeton Rays before he got to play his first home game in front of the Princeton faithful.

In what was his fifth game at the time, the Henderson, Nev. native made the most of it, going 1 for 3 with a run scored in the P-Rays’ 4-1 victory over Burlington on July 12.

“(Last Tuesday) was my first home game,” Hager said. “It was pretty fun to see all the fans on our side. It was a good time knowing that all the fans were behind us.”

It has been a whirlwind few weeks for Hager who was selected 32nd overall in June’s amateur draft by Tampa Bay fresh out of Sierra Vista High School in Las Vegas.

“That was the best feeling of my life,” Hager said. “I’ve worked so hard my whole life and it’s my dream to make it to the majors leagues. Now here’s my chance. I’m very fortunate and very exited to pursue my dream.”

He will get to pursue that dream after passing up an opportunity to play for Arizona State which he said was not an easy decision.

“It was difficult, but once I heard my name called, I wanted to be a pro right away,” Hager added. “I wanted to get out there and get my feet wet. I wanted to start. I didn’t want to miss three years where I could be getting better. I was excited.”

As one of the 10 players Tampa Bay selected in the first round or compensatory round, Hager is the highest pick to sign. The Rays are still trying to lock up 24th overall pick Taylor Guerrieri and 31st overall pick Michael Mahtook.

“Before the draft started, we kind of knew where I was going because the Rays had contacted me,” Hager said. “Right when I got drafted, I wanted to sign as quick as I could. I wanted to get out here and not wait until the end of the signing period so I could a lot of games in. I’m glad I signed early.”

The Princeton Rays are hopeful he can bring his bat that led him to being named the Southern Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year after batting .547 with 11 home runs and 57 RBIs.

“I was trying to get it my junior year,” Hager said of getting the award. “I worked very hard and one goal was to win states for the team and my personal goal was to get Gatorade Player of the Year.

“I was very happy and emotional to work hard and get that. I was proud of myself.”

Along the way, he was also able to rack up a 3-2 record on the mound with a 2.43 ERA. Despite the stellar record and ERA, the 6-foot-1, 170 pound Hager has no plans to pitch any time soon.

“I love playing shortstop,” he said with a laugh. “I’m not a big fan of pitching. I did it to help my team out which was great. If I were to pick anything, it would be shortstop.”

That selfless attitude should come in handy with the guys in his new clubhouse and Hager tries to show it every time out on the field.

“I’m a very good teammate,” he added. “I love my team and we try to do the best we can. I’d do anything for them to win a game. I’m a great team player. I just try to help all my teammates.”

Just as he would try to pick up who is feeling down, his teammates may have to do the same for Hager who statistically is having a rough start to his professional career.

The 18-year-old has only five hits in 33 at-bats for a .152 batting average. The good news though is he’s only struck out three times which means he’s getting the bat on the ball.

“It’s a lot of different than what I’ve seen before,” Hager said of the talent difference between high school and the Appy League. “I’m getting use to it and back in a groove. I’m feeling very comfortable.

“I’m getting use to the pitching. I like the talent around me. It’s good competition and makes you better.”

While he will admit to being nervous in his first game, Hager says he is the type of guy who remains calm and does his own thing.

He added, “All I do is focus on working very hard. Ever since that first game, I’ve been very calm and just trying to be myself.”

Hager will not make up excuses to his early struggles. After playing fall and ‘scout’ ball, it has not been a big adjustment going from aluminum to wood. In fact, Hager loves swinging the wood bats.

While the crack of the bat has not been kind to him yet, Hager will keep on swinging at the sport he’s played since he was a little boy.

“I started baseball when I was young,” Hager said. “Probably around seventh grade is when I really wanted to start just kicking into baseball. I started club ball and played all year around.

“I loved watching pro ball players and games on TV. I just want to be there.”

The youngest member of the P-Rays — Hager was born in March of 1993 — knows it is just a matter of time and adjustment.

Going from high school baseball to Appalachian League baseball is much like going from the dry heat and bright lights of desert to the Appalachian Mountains,  “It’s a big difference,” according to Hager. “But, I’m getting use to it.”

The quicker he adjusts, the quicker his assent to the bright lights of the big leagues will be.

— Contact Jonathan Greene

at jgreene@bdtonline.com

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