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No gray area a la [url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spmatz1112865460jun10,0,6019062.story]Steven Matz[/url] here. This year's 34th-round draft pick, [url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/hicksville-s-maron-begins-long-road-to-metsville-1.1357582]Cam Maron[/url] is the Met-lovin' goods, according to Newsday.
| ]Hicksville's Maron begins long road to Metsville
August 8, 2009
Hicksville's Cam Maron says he's been a Mets fan since the day he was born. He auditioned for "Announcer for the Day" at Shea Stadium when he was 7 years old, and the room he shared with his brother was painted wall-to-wall orange and blue.
And now he's playing ball for them.
The Mets selected the recent Hicksville High School graduate and Newsday first-team All-Long Island catcher in the 34th round of the draft June 10. Maron signed June 29 and left for Port St. Lucie, Fla., the next day to play for the Gulf Coast League Mets.
"There was no second guessing or regrets," said Maron, who was offered a scholarship to attend C.W. Post. "When I got the call, I knew I was going to sign with them."
Although he is being used in mostly a backup role at St. Lucie, his numbers are good. Through Friday (in his first six professional games), he was hitting .300 with six runs, four walks and one RBI. He went 2-for-2 with a walk Wednesday against the Nationals.
"Now I'm really starting to get used to it," Maron said. "There's a lot more mental preparation on this level because you face so many different pitchers. In high school, you knew just about everyone you were facing, because you grew up playing with and against them."
His high school coach, Frank Ciaramitaro, had no doubt Maron would make the necessary adjustments. "His baseball acumen and work ethic are unparalleled," Ciaramitaro said. "There isn't anything he wouldn't do 100 percent."
Maron said he's experienced upgrades in every facet of his game, including throwing runners out and calling a game behind the plate.
"Most guys know the fundamentals already," Maron said. "But learning pitch sequences and calling defenses takes a lot of preparation."
Maron said the Mets felt his footwork was good but noticed he was dropping his elbow on his throws.
Maron is confident he'll master the position and said: "You're only going to get better through trial and error." |
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