With the offensive challenges the Shorebirds have faced for most of this year, any ray of hope provided by a guy who’s hitting at two lower levels is tempered by the trepidation of whether his success will translate to a higher level. For Greg Lorenzo, the answer so far is a resounding yes.
In 10 Shorebird games, Lorenzo has picked up a hit in nine of them – a good reason he’s sporting a .368 Delmarva average going into tonight’s series opener at Hagerstown (14-for-38). This success continues a torrid campaign where Greg has hit across three levels, compiling a .316/2/7/.907 OPS mark in 25 games with the Gulf Coast League Orioles before a promotion to Aberdeen, where he hit .317/0/6/.705 OPS in nine games. Considering the 21-year-old Dominican had hit just .232 in 48 GCL games last year, he’s forced his way up the system by hitting well and swiping the occasional base (13 steals in 43 games across all levels.)
Of course, at this point of the season most players have already established the level where their overall numbers will be so the thoughts turn to where they may end up next season. Considering that none of the three outfielders who opened the season in the April 6 starting lineup are with the Shorebirds anymore (and the three who are currently active have fewer than 40 Delmarva games between the trio) the outfield situation looks wide open for next season.
Greg has as much opportunity as anyone to make himself a valuable part of the 2013 Delmarva squad, so the question will be whether he’s going to remain a .300 hitter who can make things happen with his speed or regress to his previous career norm of being a .230 hitter prior to this year. Long-suffering Shorebird fans certainly would like to see a dominant offensive player in the black and orange once again.