Red-hot Popkins leads Wild Things past TC
Wild Things’ first baseman Jimmy Yezzo picks off Traverse City’s Jeremy Delgado during a game at Consol Energy Park in Thursday.
Wild Things’ David Popkins is safe at third base after hitting a triple Traverse City’s Jose Vargas drops the ball during a game at Consol Energy Park in Thursday.
Wild Things’ Ricky Rodriguez hits a two-run home run in the second inning during Thursday’s game with Traverse City at Consol Energy Park.
Wild Things’ David Popkins is safe at third base after hitting a triple as Traverse City’s Jose Vargas drops the ball.
Wild Things’ David Popkins is safe at third base after hitting a triple as Traverse City’s Jose Vargas drops the ball.
David Popkins knows all about beating the odds. After all, he went from undrafted college outfielder out of Cal-Davis to a starter at the Class AA level in the talent-rich St. Louis Cardinals farm system.
It was Popkins’ never-give-up attitude and hitting that helped keep him in affiliated ball for three years, until he was squeezed out by too many highly regarded prospects, players the Cardinals had more money invested in than the 26-year-old switch-hitter from San Diego.
After hitting only .232 last year with the Wild Things, the odds are again stacked against Popkins making it back to affiliated ball. That, however, doesn’t stop the 26-year-old from trying.
Popkins spent the last two days hitting baseballs to all parts of Consol Energy Park and playing like anything is possible. In the series finale Thursday night against Traverse City, Popkins was 3-for-3, reached base four times and scored two runs, helping Washington to a 3-1 victory.
Popkins was a home run shy of the cycle, one night after smacking two home runs against the Beach Bums.
“I believe I can get back to affiliated ball,” said Popkins, the Wild Things’ right fielder. “I’ve added a lot of things to my game that I didn’t think I was capable of having. If I continue to add to my game, then the sky is the limit.”
Popkins was soaring through the St. Louis system in 2013, when he batted .317 for Palm Beach. It was the second-highest batting average ever for a Cardinals player in the pitcher-friendly Class A Florida State League. The next season, at Class AA Springfield, Popkins hit .243 with five home runs. He was released a few months later.
Playing for the Wild Things last season, Popkins wanted to add power-hitting to his game. He did that, connecting on 20 home runs, the fourth-best total in the Frontier League.
“I’m trying to be a power-hitter,” Popkins admitted. “I’m looking for good pitches to hit. (Wednesday) I got two pitches on the sweet spot and hit them out. Tonight, I was able to put the barrel on the ball a couple of times.”
Popkins led off the bottom of the second inning with a line-drive single, the Wild Things’ first hit of the game off Traverse City starter Kramer Champlin (1-1), who threw the first no-hitter in the Beach Bums’ 11-year history last Friday against Joliet.
Left fielder Ricky Rodriguez followed with a two-run homer to left field that staked Washington to a 2-0 lead. That was all the offense Washington starter Chase Cunningham (2-0) and three relief pitchers needed.
Cunningham gave up one run over five innings, and relievers Brian O’Keefe, Kolin Stanley and Zac Grotz combined for four scoreless innings. Grotz got the final three outs for his first save as the Wild Things (6-5) moved back above the .500 mark.
“We’re pitching pretty well,” Washington manager Gregg Langbehn said. “In the games we’ve won, we’ve done enough offensively and pitched well. We’re still quite a ways away from where we need to be.”
Popkins figured into Washington’s third run. He led off the fourth with a triple into the right-field corner and scored on a line-drive double by Jimmy Yezzo to make it 3-1.
Popkins doubled into the left-field corner in his third at-bat. In the eighth inning, Popkins had a chance to become the first Wild Things player in the franchise’s 15-year history to hit for the cycle, but he drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch.
“What impressed me most about David Popkins in this game was his final at-bat,” Langbehn said. “He could have given away that at-bat by swinging for the fence. Instead, he stayed disciplined.
“If he stays consistent, yes, he can get back to affiliated ball. He has the right demeanor, and the thing that impresses me the most about him is he prepares. He has an excellent disposition. He’s also as dangerous as any hitter in this league.”
Washington begins a six-game road trip tonight at Schaumburg. The trip concludes with a three-game set beginning Tuesday at Normal. … Wild Things center fielder Jamal Austin stole his sixth base.