The Scottsdale Community College infielder needed to focus.
"Mainly, I just have to concentrate on being disciplined," Eldridge told The Post-Dispatch. "I consider myself a pretty good hitter, but I've probably been worrying too much about hitting the long ball. I just need to work on hitting the ball hard every time."
Eldridge concentrated enough to turn pro the next year. He went on to play five seasons, but he never could concentrate enough to make the majors.
Eldridge's career began in 1988, taken by the Angels in the 39th round of the draft out of Scottsdale. He is a native of St. Louis.
Eldridge started with the Angels at short-season Bend in 1988 and the rookie Arizona League in 1989. He got into 12 games in each season.
He then moved to the Cardinals and short-season Hamilton for 1990. In 55 games there, he hit .255, with four home runs.
His only full season came in 1991 at single-A Savannah. In 126 games, he hit .237. He knocked a bases-clearing double and knocked in four runs total in a July rout. Eldridge plated another run on a double in an August game.
"Games like this are fun," Eldridge told The Savannah Morning News after the July win. "It was nice to get some runs."
Eldridge returned for one more season, playing 31 games between high-A St. Petersburg and single-A Springfield, ending his career.
Eldridge has since returned home to St. Louis, where he is listed in 2017 as a youth coach for the St. Louis Bandits.
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 29, 1987:Baseball Observers Catching On To Eldridge
- Savannah Morning News, July 24, 1991: SavCards Strike Early and Often To Route Sumter
Players/Coaches Featured: 2,545
Made the Majors:1,017-40.0%
Never Made Majors:1,528-60.0%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 422
10+ Seasons in the Minors:259
No comments:
Post a Comment