Spring training star Bocachica makes his way back to Mariners
SEATTLE – Hiram Bocachica is back in a Seattle Mariners uniform, wearing the smile he had in spring training and, apparently, having forgotten one of the worst days of his professional life.
He surprised everyone with his outstanding play in Arizona, where he batted .351 with four home runs and a team-high 12 RBIs. At the time, he thought he had played well enough to win a spot with the Mariners.
The M’s, a team stocked with veterans and no room for another swift utility player like Bocachica, sent him to Class AAA Tacoma with just a few days remaining in spring training.
He was devastated.
“He took it like he got hit with a sledgehammer,” manager Bob Melvin said at the time.
In the clubhouse, Bocachica sat at his locker in disbelief.
“I’ve been through some tough situations before in my career, but this is the worst,” he said that day. “I feel so good about my game and I’m so confident, but bad things keep happening. But I’ve got to keep going.”
Bocachica, a 28-year-old from Puerto Rico, went to the Rainiers with a good attitude and became one of their best players this season. He was batting .303 with seven homers, 21 RBIs and 12 steals when the Mariners called him back up Wednesday when they sent pitcher Gil Meche down.
“He’s been outstanding. He’s swung the bat real well, played a very solid defense and leads the team in stolen bases,” Rainiers manager Dan Rohn said. “All around, he’s been very solid.”
And Bocachica played with no animosity about playing in the minor leagues after he proved at spring training he can compete in the majors.
“Any time you have a spring like he had and you’ve got an inkling you could make the club, it’s tough,” Rohn said. “But he came down with a great attitude. He jelled right away and he’s one of the leaders on the ballclub.”
Bocachica, who played infield and outfield at spring training, played mostly in right field at Tacoma. His teammates nicknamed him “Bocachiro” because of the position he played and his slender Ichiro Suzuki-like physique.
Bocachica figures to get plenty of playing time with the Mariners after left fielder Raul Ibanez strained his right hamstring in Wednesday night’s game. The team won’t make a decision on whether to place Ibanez on the disabled list until today, although it seemed certain Wednesday that he’ll be out several days.
Bocachica, who played nine innings for the Rainiers on Wednesday afternoon, replaced Ibanez in the second inning that night and played the rest of the game, going 0 for 2 with a walk and a stolen base.
“I just want to do whatever they ask me to do,” said Bocachica, who played parts of the last four seasons with the Dodgers and Tigers before the M’s signed him in January.