NILES — The new-look Mahoning Valley Scrappers made their debut Tuesday at Eastwood Field.
Following a two-day break and a three-game road trip, the Scrappers returned home with a completely revamped roster. The MLB Draft League is now in phase two of its season, which features professional players who have exhausted their amateur eligibility. Players receive housing, meal money, travel, and weekly compensation.
Just two players who were on the Scrappers roster prior to July 4 returned for the second half of the season.
The new version of the Scrappers didn’t get off to the best of home starts.
Frederick sent 11 men to the plate in a six-run second inning and coasted to a 9-3 win over the Scrappers in front of 2,105 fans.
Five Keys players knocked in runs in the second, including a Case Yamauchi two-RBI base hit. Logan Thomason collected a pair of singles in the frame.
The six-run inning quickly erased a 1-0 Scrappers advantage. The Scrappers scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the first. Trenton Jamison doubled, then scored on a Mason Sykes two-out single.
The Keys scored their seventh run in the fourth on a Herman Yanez home run. Scrappers starter Matt Comnos then settled down to retire the final nine men he faced.
Meanwhile, Keys starter Mason Philley retired 13 straight batters following the Sykes first-inning single.
The Keys and Scrappers return to Eastwood Field tonight at 7:05.
ROCKET MAN
Sykes knows that one way or another, his future endeavors will keep him close to the baseball diamond.
Sykes’ ultimate goal is to work his way into professional baseball, progress up through the ranks and eventually land on a big league roster.
“Playing in the Major Leagues has always been my dream, it’s been my goal for as long as I can remember,” Sykes said. “I want to stay in the game as long as I can, and work as hard as I can to make it to that next level.”
Sykes also has the option of staying close to the sport by way of his college degree. He recently graduated from the University of Toledo with a degree in exercise science.
For now, Sykes – a native of Chicago – is content with showcasing his talents in the MLB Draft League. He is one of just two players on the Scrappers’ current roster who was also with the team prior to the break.
Sykes, who has played multiple positions this year in both the outfield and infield, recently completed a stellar three-year career at the University of Toledo. In 2022 he batted .317 with 16 home runs and 52 RBI. This past spring he hit 15 round-trippers and knocked in 45 runs with a .291 batting average.
Sykes began his collegiate career at Wabash Valley Community College.
In just three years, Sykes became the Rockets’ all-time leader in single-season home runs (16) and career home runs (38). He collected 131 career RBI.
“It was a great and very rewarding career at Toledo,” Sykes said. “We didn’t finish this season with as many wins (26) as I would have hoped for, but overall the program made great strides during my time there.”
In 2022, Toledo finished with a record of 33-25. It was the third-most wins in program history, and it was also the Rockets’ first winning season since 2012.
“Prior to 2021, Toledo wasn’t a historically good program,” Sykes said. “I came in embracing the idea that I could be part of a group that helped turn things around and put the program in the right direction moving forward.”
“I think that goal was accomplished. Down the road, I think the legacy of our senior class will be that we helped jumpstart the rebirth of Toledo baseball.”
With the Scrappers, Sykes is batting .289. He leads the league in doubles (8) and RBI (27).
Sykes has gotten off to an especially hot start to the second half of the season. In a three-game series at State College this past weekend, Sykes was 7-for-13 with a home run and eight RBI. The homer was a grand slam that traveled 444 feet.
For now, Sykes is grateful he has the opportunity to continue to pursue his dream while playing with the Scrappers.
“I’ve learned that in life, the relationships you build with people is all that matters and I’ve already created some great connections with my coaches and teammates,” Sykes said. “If you have solid relationships, everything else is good.
“It’s all about not wasting days.”