Published: July 19, 2008 09:35 pm            

Chicagoan Stevens adapts to Bluefield life

BLUEFIELD — Bobby Stevens has experienced culture shock since arriving in Bluefield to play for the Orioles.

He faced another kind of shock last February when a gunman at Northern Illinois University opened fire in a campus classroom, killing five and wounding 18 before turning the gun on himself.

“I was there for the shooting,” said Stevens, who was drafted in June by the Baltimore Orioles out of Northern Illinois in the 16th round. “That kind of put things in perspective for a lot of people, I would think.”

Stevens, a shortstop for the Orioles, is a ‘city kid’ who grew up in Chicago as an avid White Sox fan with a dream. His dream has been realized.

“I’ve always wanted to play professional baseball, not many people get to do this,” said the 21-year-old Stevens. “I am enjoying my lifestyle right now. This fits my lifestyle perfectly. I get up at noon, come to the field and play baseball and do it all over again.”

It has taken Stevens time to adjust to playing baseball amid the mountains of the Appalachian League after spending much of his life visiting Comiskey Park or Wrigley Field.

“It’s an experience, that’s for sure, it’s a change of scenery for me,” Stevens said. “It’s quite a culture shock, especially coming out after games and there’s nothing to eat but McDonald’s or something like that.

“I’m used to people being up at all hours of the night, especially myself. It’s definitely a culture shock, but I’m adjusting pretty well.”

Stevens was batting .224 (17-76) for the Orioles through Friday with 19 runs scored and six stolen bases. However, his .379 on-base percentage was 20th in the league, thanks to being plunked 14 times by opposing pitchers.

He was hit four times in a three-game span in June, and once in each of the last four games heading into Saturday’s contest at Greeneville.

That is nothing unusual for Stevens. He was fourth in the nation by getting plunked 27 times last season for the Huskies, including at least once in eight straight games. He was hit 45 times during his three-year career, and also had 52 career stolen bases.

Stevens could have played another season for the Huskies, but plans made during his days at Guerin Prep in Chicago were exactly what transpired.

“I was talking to people in high school, but after I signed with a four-year school, I think it kind of died down,” said Stevens, who batted .308 with five home runs, 26 RBIs, 52 runs scored, 20 stolen bases and 18 doubles as a junior. “It was always in the back of my mind that in three years I wanted to get drafted and progress in my career.

“I have one more year of school, but I’m not going back quite yet. I want to give this a shot first.”

While Stevens plays shortstop for the Orioles, he could and will play anywhere. That’s just where he’s always played.

“I was always a shortstop, I stopped pitching at a young age,” said Stevens, who is tied for eighth in the league in stolen bases, and 11th in runs scored. “Most kids pitch and play somewhere else, but I kind of stuck with shortstop and it’s paid off so far. Hopefully I can get hot and help the team win a little bit.”

He’s shown flashes, collecting two doubles and three runs scored in a win over Princeton on June 22, and he had a home run and scored three runs in a July 3 victory against the Rays. He’s actually scored three runs in a game three times this season.

“I think I’ll give myself a four-year window where I’m either on my way up or I’ve got to pick something else to do,” said Stevens, a business marketing major with a GPA over 3.0. “I have no set timetable, but I think you still have to be realistic with yourself as far as your talent and where it’s going to take you.”

In addition to speed and the ability to get on base, Stevens’ strength includes the willingness to play anywhere. The Orioles have even talked about catcher, a position he’s never played in the past.

“I would say speed and versatility most of all,” said Stevens, who also had five doubles and five RBIs for the Orioles. “When I got drafted I told them I would play anywhere that will help me move up.

“If it’s shortstop, it’s there, if it’s second base, outfield, catcher, I’ll play anywhere so I think that would be my biggest asset.”

Unlike many of his teammates, Stevens took a short break between the college season and pro ball, and didn’t attend extended spring training in Sarasota, Fla. That may have played a role in Steven committing 13 errors through July 4, including three apiece in a pair of games.

However, Stevens went nine straight contests without a miscue until his 14th error occurred in Friday’s loss at Greeneville.

“I think it was a matter of being a little antsy the first few games and I hadn’t played for a while before I came down here,” said the 6-foot, 190-pound Stevens. “No excuses, but I’m in more of a rhythm now, we’re playing every day and getting some practice in.”

While Stevens now professes to being a fan of the Orioles, he grew up in Chicago having to choose the Cubs or — as ChiSox broadcaster Ken Harrelson calls the White Sox — ‘the good guys.’

“I’m a White Sox fan all the way, I hate the Cubs,” said Stevens, who did follow the exploits of former Baltimore star Cal Ripken, Jr. “They’ve got a good team, but so do we. Of course I’m an Orioles fan now.”

Stevens was able to see games at both Windy City facilities, but his allegiance swung to the South Side with players like Robin Ventura and Frank Thomas.

“I didn’t go to as many (games) as probably a lot of people, but the ones I did go to I remember taking the bus to Wrigley or going to Comiskey and watching the White Sox because I love the White Sox,” Stevens said. “I loved going there, but Cubs games are always on during the day and it’s always the thing to do.”

With both the Cubs and White Sox in first place, there has been some talk of a Subway Series in Chicago. Stevens isn’t sure that’s a good thing.

“I don’t know if I could handle it, I don’t know if the city could handle it,” Stevens said. “It would be mayhem out there.”

Stevens was rated as the top high school shortstop in Illinois as a Chicago prep star, batting .423 with seven home runs and 25 stolen bases as a senior. Also a participant in football, Stevens chose to attend Northern Illinois, batting .252 in his first two seasons before picking up the pace in the spring.

While the Huskies finished 28-26, falling a game short of the Mid-American Conference tournament finals, all activities at the DeKalb, Ill. school were overshadowed by the Feb. 15 shooting.

“I was across the street from where it happened, walking over toward where the building was at,” said Stevens, who played in the Cape Cod League and Central Illinois Collegiate League during the previous two summers. “I heard wrong information. I heard there was an actual fire so I kind of figured I’d better avoid the scene.

“When I tried to get into practice — we had been practicing inside — no one would let me in because everything was on lockdown. I had no reception in my phone so I couldn’t talk to my parents until midnight so no one had heard from me.”

Stevens couldn’t help but think back to the horrible tragedy at Virginia Tech the previous April that left 33 students and faculty dead.

“That was a huge ordeal, but ours was still an ordeal, especially for those five families,” Stevens said. “It wasn’t as bad as Virginia Tech was, but I think it still makes you think...

“I could have been sitting in that room. I had classes in that room. Sometimes situations like that are something you can’t predict.”

While Stevens couldn’t have predicted what awaited in Bluefield, he’s learned that the Orioles are celebrities during the baseball season.

“The people are awesome, our host family is awesome, when we get fans out they’re always great, and it’s good to see kids out,” Stevens said. “We’re not big leaguers, but when they come out, it makes you feel like big league.

“We definitely are (celebrities). People know who you are in this town.”

        

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