The Show Is Where Maddox Hopes To Go
Last updated Sunday, April 20, 2008 8:49 PM CDT in Sports
By Paul Nielsen
THE MORNING NEWS
SPRINGDALE -- All Minor League Baseball players dream of making it to The Show.
But just months into his professional baseball career, Northwest Arkansas Naturals second baseman Marc Maddox got a first-hand look at what the Mississippi native hopes to call home one day.
Maddox was a ninth-round selection by the Kansas City Royals in the 2006 Free Agent Draft and later that year was named the franchise's Player of the Year at Rookie League Idaho Falls.
The perk was a trip to Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City where Maddox was honored along with the Royals' other top Minor League players.
"It was a great moment and it lets you know what your goals are," Maddox said. "That's where you want to ended up playing."
Maddox followed a brilliant high school career at Oak Grove High in Hattiesburg with a four solid seasons at Southern Mississippi. Maddox finished his career at Southern Miss. as the school's all-time leader in home runs (53), hits (296) and games played (244) and was drafted in the ninth round of the 2006 Free Agent Draft. He signed with the Royals for $50,000 and has been on the fast track ever since.
And that comes to no surprise to Southern Miss coach Corky Palmer. Palmer has been at the school 10 seasons and said Maddox is one of the best players to ever wear a Golden Eagles uniform.
"Marc's work habits are among the top three players that I have ever coached and I have been coaching for 30 years," Palmer said. "Marc has the talent but his work ethic is second to none. He understands the game but it is his work ethic that separates him. That is why he is having the success that he is having."
Maddox's first season with the Royals in Idaho Falls was a productive one as the second baseman hit .336 in 62 games for the Chukars while making just six errors at second.
It was at Idaho Falls that Maddox realized that life in the Minor League's is a grind.
"You have to get used to playing every day, that's the biggest thing" Maddox said. "In college, you have some days off but in professional ball you play every single day. That was one of the big things you have to get used too."
Moving Up
Maddox started the 2007 season at Class A Burlington, but was promoted to Class A-Advanced Wilmington after just a month in Iowa. In 21 games in Burlington, Maddox batted .301 with 17 RBIs and two home runs.
The transition to Wilmington was a bit more difficult as Maddox batted .259 in 101 games. But the Royals were impressed enough to send Maddox to the Arizona Fall League after the 2007 season. Each of the Major League Baseball Teams send their top six prospects to play a six-week schedule. Maddox lead the AFL in batting at one point before settling for a ninth best .321.
"Hopefully, I can build off of what I learned last year at Burlington and Wilmington and in the Arizona Fall League," Maddox said
The strong showing in the AFL seemed good enough to punch Maddox's ticket to Double-A and a spot on the Northwest Arkansas roster but he said he didn't take anything for granted when Spring Training started in February.
"I didn't know where I would go and you go out every year at spring training competing for jobs," Maddox said. "Nobody has a job for sure. You have to go out there and compete and do the best you can. Some times the pressure gets you, some times it doesn't."
Maddox said the final day of spring training was a rush to the clubhouse to see where the Royals placed their Minor League Players for the 2008 season
"When they posted the roster was the day I found out," Maddox said. "There was some anticipation as you go down to check the list. There was a little anxiousness to find out what team you were on."
NWA Bound
Naturals hitting coach Tommy Gregg said the transition from Class A to Double-A is a big one and Maddox and all of the Naturals players that made the jump from Wilmington are struggling at the plate. Going into Saturday's game against the Arkansas Travelers, Maddox was batting .163 while the Naturals are hitting a Texas League worst .213. Maddox, however, has recorded a hit in each of the first two games of the four-game series with the Travelers.
Maddox said he feels it is only a matter of time before his bat starts to heat up.
"Consistency, that's the biggest thing," Maddox said. "As you move up, everything gets more consistent. The pitchers are going to be more consistent and you have to be more consistent with your swing."
Gregg said it comes as no surprise that players like Maddox struggle early in their first go-around in Double-A and is confident that the Naturals second baseman, and the rest of the Naturals, will become more productive at the plate.
"I think he is pressing a little bit but I have had a couple of good talks with him," Gregg said. "He understands what he needs to do but I think he is just trying a little too hard because these stats count. I like it that he is aggressive when he goes to the plate. This is a big jump and this is the big leagues for a lot of guys."
PROFILE
Marc Maddox
AGE: 24
POSITION: Second Base
HOMETOWN: Hattiesburg, Miss.
NOTABLE: Was promoted from Class A Burlington to Class A-Advanced Wilmington in 2007. ... Was selected by the Royals to play in the prestigious Arizona Fall League where he batted .321. ... Has played second and third base as a professional and played some first base while in college.
Reader Comments (No comments posted.)
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.
Not already registered?
