Dan's Papers - August 24, 2007 - Hamptons Boy Hitting .300 & Batting 5th For KC

Ross Gload, the former East Hampton High School baseball star, has finally hit his stride as a Major Leaguer. Gload was hitting .257 as a reserve player for the Kansas City Royals until July 23. But when his hometown Yankees came to Kansas City, Gload began to turn it on. Gload went 3 for 4 on July 24 against the Bombers. He has not cooled down since. In fact, he has hit a sizzling .357 since the All-Star Break and has now raised his average to an even .300 and earned a starting spot at first base. His slugging percentage has risen 68 points to .475 since that July 24 game against the Yankees. If he keeps this up, the Royals' new number five hitter will be a force in the American League.

Gload's road to the Major Leagues was not easy. Usually, players drafted out of high school will spend a significant amount of time in the Minor Leagues before being called up to the majors. This gives them time to sharpen their fundamentals and develop their raw skills. The riper players, the college players, usually do not spend as much time in the Minor Leagues, as they have four more years of baseball experience and have developed, both mentally and physically. Therefore, Gload, as a college ball player, did not expect to spend more than only a couple of years in the Minor Leagues coming out of college. However, it took him four long Minor League years before he could make it to the Majors.

In 1997, Gload was signed by scout Dejon Watson and made his professional debut at Advanced Rookie Utica, part of the New York-Penn League (Class A). The next year, Gload started to make an impact to his team for the first time, leading the league in doubles. He was named "Star of Stars", the MVP honors of the league All-Star Game.

But Gload had trouble hitting breaking balls from right-handed pitchers. This glaring weakness was preventing a promotion to the Major Leagues. Even so, Gload was called up to the highest level of Class A ball, playing at Brevard County, a Minor League affiliate of the Florida Marlins, in 1999. However, Gload still had trouble hitting curveballs and sliders. Scouts said that he jumped out in front of the ball, not driving the pitch the other way. He could not keep his hands back at the plate. Therefore, he pulled too many pitches to right field.

2000 was the most consequential season of Gload's Minor League career. On the day of the July 31 trade deadline, Gload was traded to the Chicago Cubs. After a month in the Cubs' Minor League system, he was promoted to the Major Leagues as a September call-up. In his Major League debut against the San Francisco Giants, Gload did not manage to get a hit, going 0-4 on the day. Five days after his call-up, Gload hit his first Major League homerun off Brian Rose in Colorado. His career had finally jump-started.

Late in 2000, Gload was sent back down to the Minor Leagues and compiled good numbers at Class AAA. In 2001, Gload persevered through the Minor Leagues and was called up to the Major Leagues again, this time with the Colorado Rockies. He hit .258 in only 31 at bats in Colorado. Spending another full season in the Minor Leagues in 2003, the White Sox saw talent in Gload as they gave him his first full Major League season. Gload did not disappoint, finishing eighth in AL Rookie of the Year Voting and leading all rookies in average (.321), slugging percentage (.479) and on-base percentage (.375) in 234 at bats. However, most of his hits were off fastballs.

Now, for the first time in his Major League career, Gload has been given the chance to start for the Kansas City Royals. He has surpassed expectations as he has produced well out of the 5-spot in the order. Royals' manager Buddy Bell does not plan on taking him out of the lineup any time soon as he has been slugging .571 since the All-Star break.

Now Gload, making adjustments, is hitting .294 off curveballs and .341 off sliders from right-handed pitching. Not only are breaking balls not a weakness for him anymore, they have become his strength at the plate. 32% of his hits are hit to left field, which means he is waiting back on the ball properly now, and driving off-speed pitches to the outfield. Ross Gload's career path has taken many dips and turns. However, his perseverance and determination have allowed him to be the best baseball player that the Hamptons have produced since Carl Yazstremski. It is possible that Gload could be a star in the league for many years to come.