By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The souvenir store at Frontier Field has a rack of freshly printed N0. 53 shirts sitting near the front door. Might be a race to see what disappears from the Flower City quicker – the tees or the player wearing that jersey number.
Byron Buxton, MLB’s No. 1 prospect, makes his Frontier Field debut Friday night. Fans better catch him while they can. If he stays long enough, he will win over a new following.
“Just trying to stay in the moment and not look ahead,” Buxton told the local media Friday afternoon. “If you look ahead you kinda miss out on what you can do here, now and worry about too much stuff. Try to eliminate that pressure of looking too far ahead and just stay in the moment and have fun.”
Buxton made the jump from Double-A Chattanooga to Minnesota earlier in the season. A thumb injury sustained while sliding sent him to the disabled list.
“You have to come down and get more at bats and get experience,” the Baxley, GA native said. “That’s what I’m doing here. Just trying to make the most of it and do what I can to help us win some games here.”
In eight games with the Red Wings, Buxton has 13 hits in 32 at bats at the top of the order. He has hit safely in all eight games, stolen a base and scored five runs.
“I just try to go up there and have good at bats especially leading off a game. I want get as many pitches as I can, see as many pitches as I can for my teammates. Very comfortable leading off. I guess just because most of the time you start a game off with a fastball. Some leadoff hitters try to ambush the fastball a little bit, and me I do it a little bit. Lot more than I used to.”
Rochester hosts first-place Scranton on Friday. The Wings trail the Rail Riders by seven games in the International League’s North Division.
“Every team wants to get to the playoffs and get the ring. That’s what I’m trying to do here. Trying to help us win games and get there.”
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