Kean Wong’s season with Tampa Bay’s Single-A affiliate, the Bowling Green Hot Rods, wrapped up on Labor Day, and the 2013 Waiakea graduate returned home two days later with more than a memorable season.
Kean Wong’s season with Tampa Bay’s Single-A affiliate, the Bowling Green Hot Rods, wrapped up on Labor Day, and the 2013 Waiakea graduate returned home two days later with more than a memorable season.
The 5-foot-11 second baseman batted .306 in 106 games and 422 at-bats in his first full season of pro ball. He had two homers, 24 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. Wong’s slash line was pretty solid: .347 on-base/.376 slugging/.717 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage).
The Bowling Green Rays are based in Kentucky and play in the Midwest League, typically made up of college players and prep players who passed the rigors of rookie ball.
Like his brother Kolten Wong, the St. Louis Cardinals second baseman, Kean is being fast-tracked up the minor league ladder. He skipped Tampa Bay’s short-season Single-A Hudson Valley affiliate.
Last season, Wong, in his pro debut, batted .328 for the Gulf Coast League Rays in the rookie league, the first stop after he signed as a fourth-round draft selection. His slash line was stellar in his age 18 season: .377 on-base/.390 slugging/.767 OPS.
Despite competing against advanced pitching, Wong more than held his own in the Midwest League. He struck out 73 times or about once every 6.15 times at-bat. In other words, Wong wasn’t overmatched by velocity, movement or better control by the opposing pitching.
The best part of Wong’s season was his accolades. Wong, who was second in the league in batting, not only made the midseason All-Star team (Wong was 0 for 2), but he was also named a postseason Midwest League All-Star.
Entering the season, Wong was not ranked on Tampa Bay’s list of Top 20 prospects on the mlb.com website. After his second strong consecutive season, he’s at No. 20.
The website offered this scouting report: “In his brief time in the Rays organization, he’s shown a knack for making consistent hard contact with an advanced approach at the plate. Wong has a quick swing from the left side and should bring a little power to the plate as well as he progresses.
“Compact and strong, Wong is fairly physically mature and doesn’t run quite as well as his brother does.
“While Wong’s defensive skills grade out as adequate, he does get very high marks for his makeup, meaning he will maximize his abilities on both sides of the ball. Right now, he profiles as an intriguing offensive-minded second baseman of the future.”
The website is technically modern and also provided his Twitter: @KeanWong14.
Tampa Bay’s next level is Advanced-A Charlotte Stone Crabs in the Florida State League. Double-A ball is the Montgomery Biscuits in the Southern League.
Then Triple-A is the Durham Bulls (sort of like Kevin Costner’s “Bull Durham” movie) in the International League, one step from the big leagues.
If Wong follows his promotional path, he could be playing for the Durham Bulls in 2017, and possibly be a September call-up when rosters expand for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Mlb.com’s 2014 Prospect Watch provides an estimated time of arrival for each prospect. For Wong, it’s 2017.
Diamond notes
— Jodd Carter, a 2014 Hilo graduate, batted .288 in 37 games and 125 at-bats for the Arizona League Indians in the rookie league.
Cleveland’s 24th-round pick and outfielder had a homer and 17 RBIs. His slash line was .361 on-base/.352 slugging/.713 OPS.
— Kodi Medeiros, a 2014 Waiakea graduate, went 0-2 with a 7.13 ERA in nine games and four starts for the Arizona League Brewers in the rookie league.
Milwaukee’s first-round pick threw 17 2/3 innings, allowed 24 hits and 13 walks, and struck out 26. The left-hander gave up two homers, and had a save.
— Keone Kela, who has Big Island roots, was drafted in the 12th round by the Texas Rangers in 2012 out of Everett (Wash.) College.
The right-hander went 2-2 with a 2.02 ERA with 10 saves in 49 innings, splitting time between A and AA ball. Kela surrendered just 31 hits, walked 31 and struck out 68.
On mlb.com’s 2014 Prospect Watch Top 20 list, Kela is ranked 14th. The website’s take: “Kela’s fastball has taken off in the last couple of years. He pitched at 89-91 mph when the turned down the Mariners as a 29th-round pick out of a Seattle high school in 2011, then sat at 91-93 as a freshman at Everett (Wash.) CC the next spring.
“He has refined his delivery since signing for $100,000 as a 12th-rounder in 2012, and his heater now has climbed into the upper 90s and topped triple digits.
“Kela backs up his fastball with a hard slider and even shows some feel for a changeup. He still needs to improve his control and command, though he does a good job of keeping the ball down in the strike zone.
“After reaching low Class A in his first full year as a pro, Kela could be ready to move quickly after dominant showings in the Arizona Fall and Venezuelan Winter leagues during the offseason. He’s strictly a reliever but could develop into a late-inning option.”