Skip to main content

Pullin striving to improve his game in Lakewood

Andrew Pullin, Image- Jay Floyd
For Class A Lakewood BlueClaws second baseman Andrew Pullin a determined grind has helped turn around a season that started out in regrettable fashion.

Pullin, the Phillies' 5th round pick from two years ago, began his 2014 campaign with a .205 batting average with a homer and two RBI through his first 21 games.  Since then, the six-foot 180-pounder has tallied a .292 average while mashing three home runs and knocking in 11 runs in 18 contests.

Asked to explain the strides that he has taken at the plate, the lefty hitting Pullin offers an admission that he wasn't being selective enough in the early going this season.

"I had a slow start. I was chasing a lot of pitches out of the zone.  I've just been working on looking for good pitches to hit," Pullin said shyly.

His manager, Greg Legg, credits Pullin's hard work with the turnaround on offense.

"He's in the cage with (hitting coach Lino Connell) all the time, working on things and we're trying to get his bat and hands into a position to take a good pass at the ball, keeping it simple.  But, his own hard work more than anything has been the reason," Legg asserted with pride.

Pullin has an excellent track record when it comes to making adjustments as a pro.  Tasked with changing positions late in the Gulf Coast League season the year he was drafted, Pullin strived to adapt and looks as though he's been playing second base for several years.

According to Pullin a familiar name was responsible for his positional switch.

"I was drafted as an outfielder and Pat Gillick thought I could make the transition to the infield, so with about two weeks left in the GCL that year, I made the switch to the infield and I've played second base since," Pullin explained.

The Washington state native was in touch with Gillick, the Phillies' former general manager and current team special advisor, a considerable amount prior to being drafted and it came as no surprise that Pullin was selected by the Phillies in 2012.

The modest Pullin credits former Phillies infield coordinator and current field coordinator Doug Mansolino with guiding his adjustment period to the infield.  The youngster's skipper cites Pullin's own efforts with where he is defensively.

"Anything he does, you're not going to try to get him to work, he just does it and any time you work at something as hard as he does, you're going to get better at it," Legg stated.

The outstanding efforts continued for Pullin on Sunday, as he laced a double and a team-lead tying (four) home run while driving in three runs to pace the BlueClaws in their 8-3 romp of the Rome Braves.

Lakewood's homestand will wrap up with two more contests against Rome on Monday and Tuesday evening, with each game slated for a 6:35 PM first pitch.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Eric B Needs to be Cut (and My Name is Rakim)

While the Phillies are on a hot streak this month, one player on the team is not. Eric Bruntlett is 1-for-12 in July. Since the start of May, Bruntlett's apex in batting average has been .167 on June 14th. Bruntlett's ineptitude can be tolerated no longer. Get rid of this guy NOW! Eric B. is the 2009 Endy Chavez. Remember Endy...the guy who in 2005 managed just 2 hits in his final 42 games played as a Phillie? That is about the sort of output the Phillies are getting from Bruntlett, and it's time to fix this void. Julio Lugo was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox and is expected to become a free agent. The Metropolitans are rumored to be interested. Why wouldn't the Phillies be interested in a guy who could surely outhit Bruntlett? Lugo was hitting .284 through 37 games played this season with Boston. Suspended Lehigh Valley IronPig Pablo Ozuna is eligible to return next Wednesday. Ozuna is batting .294 through 51 games at triple A. Miguel Cairo is also...

Yankees Fans Misled By Pepsi Promotion

**** Today, New York Yankees fans attended a Pepsi promotion in Times Square hoping for chances to win opening day tickets to the new stadium, but the tickets, which were difficult to track down due to poor organization on Pepsi's part, were actually for a game in June. Furthermore, the 250 pairs that were promised were actually only 100 pairs. The fans, who were made to sprint through traffic over multiple city blocks when locations for the promotion changed, quickly turned against the soda brand by pooring out their beverages and chanting anti-Pepsi phrases. Yankees fans are even threatening a boycott of Pepsi. An appearance by Yankee great Goose Gossage could not even settle the angry mob, as he had to be whisked away, as a precaution, according to the Daily News . Ooo , I'd hate to see what "the worst fans in sports" (Philadelphia fans) would have done to their free Pepsi cans and beloved reliever in that situation. Because this happened in a non-Philly city, th...

5th spot, Wall, Old timers, Links

The race for the Phillies' fifth starter spot is still on. While it's not fully fair to compare Grapefruit League stats, when some of the pitchers have had "B game" and scrimmage outings mixed in, Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco look to be falling behind Chan Ho Park and "Jay" Happ. Happ added to his solid Grapefruit League stats (2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP in 4 games) today against the Rays. Pitching coach Rich Dubee had been displeased with Kendrick even before he surrendered 8 earned runs in 3 innings of work yesterday against the Braves. Park has been working on improving his change up, with (Coach) Jamie Moyer. Park noticed Moyer's location control on his change, so he sought out Moyer to teach him the grip and positioning of the ball. Moyer, of course, feels good about helping anyone on the Phils' staff. Park has been coached by greats like Nolan Ryan with the Rangers and Sandy Koufax with the Dodgers, so Moyer is in great company. Park is working h...