It doesn’t matter what team – or what organization – Terry Evans plays for this season. The resurgent outfielder just hits, and hits and hits.
Evans began the year as just another outfielder in the St. Louis Cardinals system. But then he drilled 22 homers at Class A Palm Beach and Double-A Springfield the first three months of the season. Then, in a surprise move, he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels for pitcher Jeff Weaver on July 5.
All that Terry Evans did at Arkansas was belt four home runs in his first six games.
Evans, 24, seemingly came out of nowhere. A 47th-round draft pick in 2001, he didn’t sign until May 2002 after playing at Middle Georgia College.
He was a career .249 hitter entering this season. He turned 24 in January, stuck in the Class A Florida State League after hitting a dismal .221-8-47 in 114 games for Palm Beach last season.
Then came his barrage of homers – 15 in 60 games at Palm Beach, five more in his first six games at Springfield. Amazingly, all five came against Arkansas, and in those three games he went 9-for-11 with 12 RBI.
Double-A or softball beer league? Either way, the power surge made him Babe Ruth reincarnated to the Angels’ brass. Since they couldn’t beat him, they made sure he joined them.
Through July, Evans ranked second in the minor leagues in home runs (28), sixth in RBI (78) and third in total bases (224).
A strong defensive player with speed, racking up 32 stolen bases through July, and a strong arm, the 6-3, 200-pounder has played right field for most of his career but is playing center for the Travelers.
Angels farm director Tony Reagins says Evans doesn’t figure into the big-league club’s plans this season, but he’s expecting big things in the near future. He ranks 43rd in the MLN FAB50 Baseball 2006.
- Jim MANDELARO
