Mike Olt shines for the Rangers in the AFL
The Surprise Saguaros recorded a stunning victory on Friday, November 4, when they overpowered the Peoria Javelinas, 17 – 4. One man to rise to the plate was none other than Texas Rangers 2010 49th Overall Draft Pick, Mike Olt. The club’s seventh
top prospect played an immense role in guiding his club to an incredible win. He has been part of the Saguaros rise to glory as the Arizona Fall League (AFL) team has the highest tally on wins (20) right now.
Olt drove in six runs and smashed a home run in the game against the Javelinas. Another Rangers man, Leury Garcia, joined the rout as he smashed his third AFL homer and scored three runs in the encounter. Nevertheless, Olt stole the show for the Saguaros,
when it came down to the hits. He has extended his hitting streak to nine games, while drawing on 30 RBIs, tying up with Salt River’s hitter, Nolan Arenado.
"The last couple days, I have felt locked in at the plate," said Olt. "The biggest thing is that I'm not chasing bad pitches. I'm driving the balls I can hit, and that really helps."
Olt was on fire early on as he smashed a two – run double against Mets starter Colin McHugh in the first inning of the match.
"[McHugh] was working me away the whole at-bat," he said. "At 3-1 with a runner in scoring position, I knew he was going to go fastball away to try and nibble at the corner, so I was looking away. I'm always sitting on the fastball and trying to react to
anything up in the zone."
He followed up his act with a three run homer in the eighth. The Rangers’ prospect did not know if the ball went all the way when he connected with the pitch.
"It was tough to tell whether it was gone," Olt said of his eighth fall homer.
Olt looks to be making his case for the Rangers’ first team. However the third baseman will likely be unable to maintain his current position as Adrian Beltre heads that position with authority. The vacant spot Rangers can afford to offer would be the first
base. However Mitch Moreland is the current candidate for that role.
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