Steve Lein

Scouting Report:

• Hitting:      50 - Contact oriented approach and good eye. 
• Power:       30 - Doubles power at his peak.
• Running:    45 - Not a fast runner, but plus instincts.
• Fielding:     40 - Stiff hands.
• Throwing:  60 - Above average arm from 2B or the OF.
• Notes: ACL surgery sapped much of his athleticism in the OF, but capable arm and the hitting skills to turn a lineup over.

Target Field is my second home, and have been going to Spring Training in Fort Myers as often as possible since 2011.

My love of the minor leagues was sparked when I watched an 18 year old shortstop and future superstar smash a home run for the Appleton Foxes of the Midwest League when I was 11 years old. That shortstop was Alex Rodriguez, who went on to make his Major League Debut later that summer.

I played competitive baseball until I hung the cleats up at 29 after tearing my ACL roaming left field for my long-time Town Ball team, the Cologne Hollanders.

Of course I was having the best season of my career that year, too. Still know my batting line: .379/.535/.448. I take solace in the fact that I made the catch on the play that tore my knee apart. You could even say it was meant to be, considering it was the 9th inning of a close game, one out, with bases loaded, and my squad up by two. The kid who replaced me in the outfield had much better wheels than I, and made a diving catch on a liner from the next batter to seal our team's victory.

I still contest I would have nabbed the guy tagging from third at home if my knee hadn't exploded on that play, though!