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| Adam Haseley, image- Jay Floyd |
The younger Haseley was the Phillies' top draft selection this year, taken with the 8th overall pick out of Virginia.
As Adam has progressed through his baseball career, even dating back to high school, the outfielder has regularly kept baseballs and given them almost as payment to his father for making sure he could compete in all the leagues that helped him to develop as a player.
Not to be forgotten, though, Adam also stresses that his mother, Mary-Kay, also helped with the taxiing and making sure he got to step between the lines in all of the beneficial leagues throughout his younger playing days.
Not only has Rich been supportive of Adam in terms of rides, travel costs, dues and the like, but he's also somewhat of a coach from afar.
"He's more of a guy that will just listen to me," Adam said of his father. "Whether I just shoot him a text after the game or if I have a good game or a bad game and need to vent, he's just quick to listen for me and then he'll give me a bigger perspective when things aren't going too well."
Staying grounded, the younger Haseley had a solid campaign in half a season in the minors since he signed his first professional contract. Splitting time at three levels in 58 games, the 21-year-old posted a .284 batting average with 13 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 28 RBI overall.
Also having played 58 games of collegiate ball this year, the left-handed batter led the Atlantic Coast Conference in batting average with a .390 mark while lacing 16 doubles, a triple and 14 home runs while adding 10 stolen bases to the mix.
Additionally, in college, Haseley was a strong hurler (7-1 record, a 3.58 ERA and a 10.1 K/9 mark in 11 starts this year as a junior), but his professional placement in outfield, seems permanent.
With Class A Lakewood failing to clinch a postseason berth, Haseley expressed disappointment that the season is over already, as he felt ready for more baseball, with his comfort level on the team and in a new league, after joining the BlueClaws' lineup on August 15th, peaking of late.
Haseley was not let down, though, with his efforts after turning pro, expressing satisfaction with being able to give minor league baseball his all.
"I think effort wise I've given pretty much everything. Every night I feel like I've given a good effort," Haseley shared. "You know sometimes with so few of games I think results can kind of go either way, but I just try not to worry about that. I just focus on about how much attention I can give and how much effort I can give every night."
Despite the South Atlantic League's regular season schedule wrapping up, there's still a bit more baseball in store for this year's draft class. In order for an array of Phillies instructors, front office staff and developmental coaches to get a look at many of the players they may not have seen during the season, players will report to the fall instructional league in Clearwater.
A true student of the game, Haseley is ready to gain more exposure before he heads home to enjoy the off-season.
"Looking forward to learning from more coaches that have been in the big leagues compared to the experiences that have happened in college baseball, so it'll be interesting and exciting to listen to them and take their pointers and what they want to teach," Haseley said.
Prior to signing with the Phillies, Haseley's primary impressions of the organization were the playoff teams he saw on television from 2007 to 2011. His goal, clearly, is to help the club make similar runs into the big league playoffs in the years to come.
Commemorative baseballs used in MLB postseason series would make some welcome additions for Rich's collection. Let's hope his ball basket is big enough to hold all the mementos that Adam hopes to collect.
For more from Adam Haseley, click here for interview excerpts.
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