Article: Get To Know: Kernels OF Zach Granite

[Seth Stohs]

On Saturday in Kane County, Zach Granite hit a single. Only he didn’t see it as a single and hustled to second, beating the throw fairly easily for a double. A couple of pitches later, Nick Gordon bunted for a hit and was barely thrown out at first base. Granite advanced to third base, but he didn’t stop there. Without even a slight hesitation, he rushed toward home and slid in safely, easily beating the throw from first base.

 

Speed Kills.When it comes to speed, few in the Twins organization are faster than Granite. In fact, if you were to line up every member of the Twins organization, and had them run the 60-yard dash, there’s a good chance that Granite would cross the finish line first.

 

Zach Granite is from Staten Island, New York and proud of it. He’s tough, and he plays with an aggressiveness that is fun to watch on the baseball diamond. After high school, he attended Seton Hall before the Twins drafted him in the 14^th round of the 2013 draft.

 

The 22-year-old is returning to the Cedar Rapids Kernels this year in large part because he missed so much time with injury in 2014. He was hurt four games into the season. He returned in late June, but two weeks later, he was back in Ft. Myers with another injury. As you would expect and understand, he was quite frustrated when he went back home to New York.

 

“I had a really bad season last year, so I took a good month off and cleared my head. I needed that. I was in my own head, just from not playing. I was thinking too much about it.”

 

However, manager Jake Mauer is happy to have Granite back in the outfield and back at the top of the order. “He had a real tough year last year. He can ignite the offense. He sees a lot of pitches. He hits line drives. He steals bases.”

 

For his part, Granite understands his role at the top of the order. Granite fits the mold for a leadoff hitter. “I’m just trying to see pitches. I’m trying to get myself good counts. They just keep throwing me balls so I keep walking. I feel like I have a pretty good eye at the plate. I’m just waiting for my pitch and if it’s not there, I’m not swinging.”

 

Twice in the Kernels first four games, Granite has stretched a single into a double by simply hustling right out of the box and not hesitating. Asked if he is thinking double out of the box, Granite said, “Oh yeah. I’m thinking triple out of the box. I stop at second because they throw it in, but yeah, I’m always thinking extra bases. There’s nothing better than a double. I like having extra base hits.”

 

As Mauer said, his professional approach at the plate and that aggressiveness on the base paths can be contagious. Mauer said that Granite “sets the tone.”

 

Granite is excited to be a part of this Kernels roster and how they are coming together as a team (as their 5-0 record through Monday's game shows). He enjoys seeing how well everyone is running the bases. “The way we’ve been playing right now, we’re running until they stop us. The first four games, we’ve been doing an excellent job on the bases. Larson, he’s got more stolen bases than me, and I’m not happy about it. He’s doing a good job.”

 

Asked for comment about having more stolen bases, Zack Larson said, “And it’s going to stay that way!”

 

Granite is also impressed thus far with the young man hitting right after him in the Kernels lineup, Nick Gordon. “Having Nick Gordon hitting behind me is great. He is doing a really great job.”

 

The goals are high for Granite in 2015, and it starts with staying on the field. “The most important thing - 100% - stay healthy. I want to lead the league in runs scored. I think that’d be huge for a leadoff hitter, and I think it’s attainable with the guys I’ve got hitting behind me like Gordon and Larson, and all the way down.”

 

He continued. “I want to grab 50 bags this season. I think it’s attainable. I’ve been working with Sam Perlozzo, our base running guy, and even Tommy (Watkins), we’ve been doing stuff to improve.”

 

Defensively, Granite says he is comfortable at all three outfield positions.

 

Fortunately, his manager is comfortable with that as well. “He is probably best suited for left field, but he can play all three, especially center and right if needed.”

 

2015 is a big year for Zach Granite, and he knows it. As mentioned, he just needs to stay healthy. If he is able to do that, he will be a catalyst for this Cedar Rapids roster. Well, he will be until there is a need for an outfielder in Ft. Myers, of course.

 

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[jokin]

The Cedar Rapids Zach(k) attack.  

 

Which Zach(k) is the better prospect/Which one is called up to Ft Myers first?

[Lazarus]

Reading this, Granite reminds me of Lenny Dykstra when he played for the Phillies. Takes good at-bats, hustles to pressure the other team, versatile defensively (although the comment that he profiles best in left leads me to believe he has Revere's arm). 

 

I see the Ben Revere profile here but I always struggled to like Revere mainly because I considered him a wasted first-round draft pick. Not his fault, I know - but it was just a mental block for me. Granite doesn't have that noose so he comes off as a scrappy underdog, a guy people can root for.

[Seth Stohs]

I like that Lenny Dykstra comp too... an interesting one. I do hear the Granite one from time to time too, and it's fair.