Kenton Ridge grad learns fast in Missoula

Jeffrey Sabo

By Michael Heinbach, The (Montana) Missoulian 9:45 PM Saturday, July 3, 2010

MISSOULA, Mont. — Kenton Ridge High School graduate Adam Eaton was drafted in the 19th round of this year’s Major League Baseball draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks after a stellar three seasons at Miami University in Oxford.

He signed quickly and ended up beginning his professional career playing outfield for the Missoula Osprey last month. With tremendous speed, a strong head for the game and a solid bat that produced a nine-game hitting streak to start the season, Eaton has quickly become a fan favorite at Ogren-Allegiance Park.

Recently, Eaton discussed his love of the game, his goals for the summer and if he’s ever been kissed under Miami’s fabled Upham Arch, where legend has it that those who share a kiss on that spot are destined to be married.

Q: When did you discover your passion for baseball?

A: I really found baseball to be interesting when I was about 13 years old, in the back yard playing with the neighborhood kids where I lived in the Knolls area of town. I had three truly great friends who are like my brothers besides my true brother, and we spent a lot of time just playing in the back yard.

We actually had a back-yard baseball league when I was younger. Mom sang the national anthem before the games, we had jerseys and we even built our own mound in the back yard.

Q: Why did you choose to attend Miami?

A: What really drew me to Miami was the campus and a lot of hearsay. Nobody ever had a single bad thing to say about Miami.

The coaches – Coach (Dan) Simonds, Coach (Ben) Bachman, who is the recruiting coordinator there, and the hitting coach, Coach (Jeremy) Ison... I can say truly they’re some of the nicest guys I’ve ever met.

I’ll go to my grave loving Miami University. It was a great fit for me and I loved every second I was there.

Q: You started following the draft at home with your parents. What was the day like?

A: Draft day was kind of a roller coaster for me because all the teams I talked to said I’d could go anywhere between rounds three and 10. The Diamondbacks said they wanted to take me around the fifth or a little later.

Three came, four came, fifth came and I was thinking that this is alright, we can still go. The 10th came, the 11th, the 12th came... Once the 12th came I literally started packing my bags because I thought I wasn’t going to get drafted this year.

I got back in my car and started driving back to Oxford, which is about two hours away. I was on I-70 when I got a call from Frankie Thon Jr., the guy that signed me, and he told me he was so sorry about the draft because he’d been telling me I’d get drafted sooner as well.

I actually had to ask him if I’d been drafted. To be honest, I went back to school to pack for summer ball because I didn’t think I was going to get drafted.

Q: Are this year’s Osprey as close-knit as they seem?

A: I’m pretty tight with the guys who come from close to my home, Derek Eitel is from Illinois, (Eric) Groff is from Pennsylvania and CJ (Chris Jarrett) is from Indiana and we’ve become pretty close.

But I think the whole clubhouse as a unit is extremely close already. A lot of us hang out afterward and before the game we’re all in there together.

Q: What do you think of Missoula?

A: I couldn’t ask for a better town to be honest. Today we went to out to lunch down by the river there and there were just a ton of people out there having a good time.

The people here are all really nice people. Derek Eitel and CJ and I have been talking about how nice people out here are and how giving they are. They all love their Missoula Osprey. I can’t say enough about this town.

Q: Can you describe yourself as a player?

A: A lot of people say play a lot like Brett Butler – kind of a scrappy hitter. I’m not going to be the prettiest thing out there and I’m not going to make the flashiest plays. But I just try to get the job done and be as efficient as possible.

I’m always the shortest guy on the field, so I feel like I’ve got to work harder than a lot of other people.

Q: What are your goals for this season?

A: To be honest, first is just to listen to my coaches. They know what they’re talking about.

On the field, it’s to take it one at-bat at a time, don’t get too ahead of myself and play the game hard. I’ve always been taught that since I was little in the back yard with my dad.

Lightning round

Q: You’re listed at 5-foot-9. How tall are you really?

A: I’m 5-8... 5-9 with spikes on.

Q: Favorite team?

A: The Cleveland Indians. My dad grew up there, so I’ll always be a Tribe fan.

Q: Favorite player?

A: It’s Kenny Lofton. But my favorite old-time player is Yogi Berra.

Q: Ever kiss anyone under the Upham Arch?

A: I have, my girlfriend right now, Katie Osburn. We’re going on eight months. She’s a softball player and she’ll really be psyched to get mentioned in this.

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