Schrock Plays To Strengths

WASHINGTON—Low Class A Hagerstown second baseman Max Schrock knows what he is—and he’s fine with that.

The 5-foot-8, 180-pound Schrock was a 13th-round pick last year even after having a successful college career at South Carolina. As a minor leaguer, he has played the game the same way he did growing up in the Chapel Hill, N.C., area while cheering for similarly built Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox.

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Through 30 games with the Suns, Schrock hit .336/.403/.429 with more walks (13) than strikeouts (nine) and 11 stolen bases.

“I’m a smaller guy, so I’m not going to hit 20 or 25 home runs,” said Schrock. “It’s my job to get on base any way I can and slap the ball around a little bit. That’s what I pride myself on.”

Schrock, a lefthanded batter, said it took him a while to get used to hitting with a wood bat. He played less than a month in the Cape Cod League after his freshman year in 2013, but a back injury held him back. He rested his back again the next summer, but he has been healthy as a professional.

“I’ve learned that stretching is incredibly, incredibly important,” Schrock said, “and that watching the food you put in your body is critical as well.”

On the field, Schrock has impressed Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson with what he has learned from infield coordinator Jeff Garber.

Schrock also has filled in at shortstop, Anderson said. “He can turn the pivot from both sides,” the manager said, “which only increases his value.”

Anderson also likes Schrock’s versatility at the plate.

“He identifies (pitches) well against lefties and righties,” Anderson said. “There’s no panic in his approach, in any count.”

CAPITAL GAINS

• Righthanded reliever Koda Glover earned a promotion to Double-A Harrisburg after striking out 15 over 10 scoreless innings at high Class A Potomac.

• After a rainout in their last scheduled first-half series against each other, Potomac and Indians-affiliated Lynchburg were temporarily scheduled to play an effective triple-header. They were going to finish a suspended game and then play a doubleheader in the same day. The parent clubs, though, decided to have their Carolina League affiliates play a one-game makeup on the following Monday.