DHANANI LEARNING THE ROPES OF BEING A PRO July 30, 2009
Posted by lread in Baseball.trackback
Kyle Dhanani with Helena Brewers
This has been a summer to remember for Kyle Dhanani. The 21 year old native of White Rock, BC has started on the road to living his dream: being a Professional Baseball Player.
After three solid seasons with the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack, Dhanani was chosen in this spring’s Major League Baseball College Draft ( selected in the 43 rd round (1,306th overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers ) and assigned to Rookie Ball in Helena, Montana since mid June.
“Life has been good so far as a professional,” Dhanani explains. “ Lots of hard work involved pretty much daily. We have had only 4 days off so far and 33 games. We only have three more days off for the next half of the season. So it’s a grind. But it has been fun.”
And when he gets to the ball park: It’s truly ‘all business’. “Average day for a game at home is early work at 130, for me at least, there are scheduled times, then position player stretch at 3, hitting at 4, then relaxing in the clubhouse from around 5 to 630 before pregame stretch.”
Dhanani was a standout shortstop when he played for Ray Chadwick’s WolfPack. Now, he is earning his trade at 3rd base and at Designated Hitter. He is hitting .250 with five stolen bases and 10 RBI in his first 10 professional games. “. I had to adjust my swing after a few weeks to get used to the pitching,” he states. “ I was out on my front foot a lot, so we changed up my swing and I’ve been hitting well of late. I expected the speed to be faster, its the off speed that is the biggest adjustment. Pitchers can be really dirty at times.”
Dhanani might be hardest on himself. Helena Manager Rene Gonzales says the 6’2” WolfPack Alum has made an impact. “He is a great person and guy to have on a team. He is a great athlete and very valuable because he can play many positions,” states Gonzales. “I’m very glad to have him here.”
Coming from a Canadian based program could bring with it: a stigmatism. Gonzales doesn’t see any major deficiencies: “he has as good a pair of hands as anyone in the league. He does need to work on his plate discipline but that will come with time and play more. Kyle also has a very strong arm. I can see him getting some spot-starts and getting key hits for us ”
While with TRU, Kyle was a consummate veteran: leading by example off and on the field. “. My team is pretty chill, coaches are laid back yet hard on us when they need to be but everyone has a good time. I feel like a rookie for sure, because a lot of the guys came from spring training and knew each other already. But I’m like every new draft pick who didn’t know anyone, only difference is I’m playing with my ex-high school teammate from Blaine Washington(First Baseman Joey Paciorek), so that made that transition a lot easier.”
Dhanani moved to Blaine in high school to pursue baseball
Dhanani was a winner with the WolfPack and he wants to experience the same feeling in the pros. “. We’re only 1 game above 500, but we’re playing well, just not executing like we can and closing out games like we should.”
Gonzales believes that any success his club has for the rest of the year will be tied directly to Kyle Dhanani. “Kyle is a very intelligent player in that he’s aware and anticipates things on the field. I could see him being a leader on this team before we are done.”
FOUL BALLS: Dhanani says he still keeps in contact with former WolfPack teammates Jordan Broatch (Pitcher, White Rock, BC), Ben Bradford (Outfield, Kamloops, BC), Lee Ingram (Pitcher, Penticton, BC) and Anthony Cros (outfielder, Montpellier, France). All of whom are playing this summer in the Western Major Baseball League. “We talk on the internet all the time.” He says.
For clarification: Dhanani moved to Blaine in high school to pursue baseball where he played with Paciorek (his roommate on the road with the Brewers) for two years.
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