DeRenne may play in triple-A this year
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| DeRENNE: Ex-Iolani School standout |
DeRenne and 34 other players with ties to Hawai'i are in spring training this week preparing for the 2002 season.
DeRenne, The Advertiser's Player of the Year in 1997 at Iolani School, is in his third season with the Braves organization, which made him its 12th-round pick in the 2000 draft out of the University of Arizona. After spending time at rookie and low-class A in 2000, he was promoted to double-A Greenville (S.C.) last year.
This year, DeRenne's assignment depends on whether Betemit makes the big league club. If Betemit goes to Atlanta, DeRenne becomes a triple-A shortstop. Otherwise, he will return to Greenville, he said.
"This year will be an important year because now everything's out in the open," DeRenne said before leaving for spring training. "I know what I need to do to prepare myself physically and mentally. Now I just have to go out and perform — whether it's putting up numbers or just being consistent."
Last year, the 23-year-old DeRenne played primarily second base. He has played third, second and short during his two pro seasons, but the Braves want him to play shortstop daily this season. He said the Braves system has too many players who can only play second base, but not both second and short. A number of scouting report publications have noted that DeRenne's future is as a utility infielder.
"I've talked to guys in triple-A," he said. "There's not a whole lot of difference between double-A and triple-A, except the guys in triple-A might be a lot older."
DeRenne batted .238 at Greenville in his first full season as a pro. The 140-game schedule in humid weather, as well as seven-hour bus rides between cities of the Southern League, were physically challenging. He also said he allowed one bad game to affect him mentally in ensuing games.
"I didn't know how the weather was going to be and affect you," DeRenne said. "Physically, I was prepared. But mentally, I wasn't prepared for a season of ups and downs. More downs. Now I have a better standpoint of what I have to do on the mental side and not let it affect me day in and day out."
By skipping high-A ball last year, DeRenne was essentially put on the fast track.
"Basically, they just ran me through the fire," he said. " 'Let's see what you can do.' I was over-matched at times. It took me a while to get adjusted to the every day lifestyle, the consistency of pitching, the quality of players. Every time you move up there are that many more talented guys."
That is why he said he would not mind another season of double-A.
"But if they do send me to triple-A (Richmond, Va.), I'm going to take it and be happy with it," he said. "I'll try to do the best I can and not worry whether I deserve to be there or not. I've got to make the most of it."
Also on the fast track is right-handed pitcher Justin Wayne. The Punahou ('97) and Stanford graduate was the fifth overall pick of the 2000 draft, signing a bonus worth $2.95 million with the Montreal Expos.
Wayne, 23, started the 2001 season by repeating high-A Jupiter (Fla.) before being promoted to double-A Harrisburg (Pa.), where he was 9-2 with a 2.62 earned run average.
A sure sign of his success was when he was invited to the Arizona Fall League, which is for top prospects. But at the last moment, the Expos told him to rest his arm instead.
"A week after they invited me, they pulled me out," said Wayne before leaving for the Mainland in mid-January. "The team said I had enough innings and they didn't want me to go. It was their decision. I couldn't change their minds. It would have been a tremendous asset to play against the caliber of talent in that league."
Since his fall and winter were free, he spent it training with his older brother, Hawkeye Wayne (Iolani '95), a right-handed pitcher in the Seattle Mariners chain. He was drafted in the 11th round in 1999 out of Columbia University.
Justin Wayne wasn't sure where the Expos would assign him, but he might end up at triple-A Ottawa (Ontario).
"Triple-A would be a great challenge," he said.
Another player hoping to climb the minor league ladder is outfielder Shane Victorino, a sixth-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers out of Maui's St. Anthony High in 1999.
"This could be my breakout year," he said last week. "This could open the door."
Victorino, also in his third season, is being groomed as a leadoff hitter. He stole 47 bases while batting .283 with 71 runs in 112 games at single-A Wilmington (N.C.). He earned a promotion to high-A Vero Beach (Fla.) for the final two games of the regular season and the playoffs.
As a member of the Dodgers organization, Victorino has met some of the franchise's legends. He said former manager Tommy Lasorda, now senior vice president of the club, gave him tips at the batting cage. His base running instructor is Maury Wills, who once held baseball's single-season stole base record. He also has seen Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax.
"It's such an honor, to say the least, when you have Tommy Lasorda watching on the side of the cage, coaching you on how to swing," Victorino said.
