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 on-base plus slugging percentage.
The Hot Rods 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 batted .328 for the Gulf Coast League Rays.
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.
Wong, who was second in the league in batting, not only made the midseason All-Star team, 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 mlb.com. After his second strong 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. … Right now, he profiles as an intriguing offensive-minded second baseman of the future.”
If Wong follows his promotional path, he could be playing for the Triple-A 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.