Kyle Schmidt does not think of himself as a strikeout pitcher. And Aberdeen IronBirds manager Andy Etchebarren shares that opinion.
“When I have seen him the last few years, because I (was) a rover, I have never thought he was a strikeout pitcher,” Etchebarren said.
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Regardless of that assessment, Schmidt (1-0) is leading the first-place IronBirds and the New York-Penn League with 31 strikeouts in 24 innings. “His curveball is outstanding and his fastball is coming up. He throws 88-91 mph and if he locates it, he is a pretty good pitcher,” Etchebarren said.
“I was throwing everything for strikes and I was getting ahead of guys,” Schmidt said.
His success has been mirrored by the entire Aberdeen pitching staff. The IronBirds (14-6) have a team ERA hovering at 2.49, and have not lost at home yet this season.
“Calvin [Maduro] is great,” Schmidt said of the IronBirds pitching coach. “He was pitching a couple weeks ago in Bowie and has been to the major leagues. He unbelievable and he has helped a lot of us out and kept us on the right path.”
Offensively, Aberdeen is doing enough to get wins and first baseman Chris Vinyard continues to lead the league in batting with a .390 average. “When you are hot you are hot,” Etchebarren said of Vinyard. “By the end of season, he will not have those stats.”
Paul Winterling, a Johns Hopkins University and McDonogh School graduate, started to show some life at the plate last Wednesday with a 3-for-5 night, including two doubles and two RBI. “I was seeing the ball well and having good takes,” Winterling said.
Aberdeen is batting .236 as a team. “The minor leagues [are] the best of the best and it is only going to get better as you go up,” Aberdeen shortstop Jedidiah Stephen said.
The IronBirds were on the longest winning streak in franchise history (seven games) before taking a road loss on Saturday in Mahoning Valley. The IronBirds sat in first place of the McNamara Division on their off-day Tuesday, and will be back in action Wednesday at home against the Auburn Doubledays.
“This is a way big change from last year,” Etchebarren said. “It is easy to get excited when you are playing good.”
