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Saturday, 14 August 2010 20:12 |
By Joe Pietaro
No one can blame Chris “Cito” Culver for fantasizing about playing in Yankee Stadium. As a matter of fact, the Irondequoit High School senior shortstop has already kicked up some of the infield dirt there when he played for the Yankees’ Area Code team last summer.
"It was a huge deal playing at Yankee Stadium," said Culver. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
The 17-year-old Rochester, New York native is an admitted Yankee fan and one of his favorite players is none other than Derek Jeter, no surprise since they share the same position. Perhaps it was a sign of things to come when “Baseball America” rated the switch-hitter as the third-best prospect coming out of the Empire State.
The Yankees apparently read that same report and made Culver their first round pick (32nd overall) in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft. They wasted no time in getting him signed, an important part in starting his professional career off on the right foot, according to the team’s Vice President of Amateur Scouting.
Although the Yankees early selection of Culver was surprising to experts at Baseball America, the team's scouts and executives knew the youngster was something special.
“We are very excited to get Cito signed so quickly and get him out on the field to begin his development as a Major League prospect,” said Damon Oppenheimer.
"Damon said they can't wait to get me down to Tampa to play shortshop," said Culver. "And shortstop is where I want to be."
Culver's mom, Gladys Lopez, said in an interview, "Chris fell to the floor with his knees buckled and cried when the Yankees selected him. It's awesome - I still can't believe it."
Irondequoit coach Tim Mabb had nothing but kind words to say about his former shortstop. "He's a better kid than a baseball player," Mabb said in an interview. "He's a great baseball player. With his work ethic and desire, he will be there within three or four years. I see nothing but good things ahead."
At Irondequoit, Culver went out in style, leading his team to the Monroe County Division title after posting impressive numbers, such as a .561 batting average, 10 doubles, five triples, nine home runs, 38 RBI and 20 walks in 22 regular season games. Perhaps more encouraging is his .933 fielding percentage (eight errors in 120 chances). This is obviously a two-way player and also one who was named his team’s MVP in each of the last three seasons, a three-time All-County selection and an Under Armour All-American.
Culver accepted a scholarship to play for the University of Maryland but opted to join the franchise with 27 world championships under their belt. Terrapins coach Erik Bakich told Culver he was very proud of him and wished him all the best in his professional career.
It will be interesting to see how fast Culver rises up the organizational ladder and if that will affect his future with the big league club. Jeter just happens to be blocking any shortstop down on the farm and has been since his first full campaign in the Bronx in 1996. The Yankees captain, 36, is not showing any signs of slowing down and was hitting .286 with eight home runs, 16 doubles and 39 RBI after 73 games. The future first ballot Hall of Famer will decide when it is time to hang up the spikes and Jeter will in all likelihood play at a similar level into his early 40s, considering the shape that he is in.
It is always possible that Culver will become a trading chip in the future or be weaned in as a second baseman or utility infielder. It is not unlike the Yankees to package prospects together in a deal for an impact player, so anyone in their minor league system is fair game, even local heroes.
During the first few months of his early professional career, Culver is holding his own, hitting .262 while ranking third on the Gulf Coast Yankees in hits.
His lifelong dream to be a Yankee has become a reality for him and he may once again find himself stepping out of the home dugout at Yankee Stadium.
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