Melville wins Rawlings Gold Glove Award
February 28, 2009
Wentzville
Pitcher Tim Melville graduated last year and signed a lucrative professional baseball contract with the Kansas City Royals, but the hardware continues to arrive at Holt High School.
Melville was one of only nine prep players in the country to be awarded the 2008 Rawlings Gold Glove Award, given annually to “The Finest in the Field.”
Coaches and former teammates gathered at the Holt baseball field to congratulate Tim on the accomplishment, and admire one of the best known awards in baseball.
“I didn’t think it was this big, it’s the same one the pros get,” said an admiring Melville. “It’s a real honor, and I would love to win a lot more of these, like Greg Maddux did during his career.”
How good a fielder was he in high school? Varsity head coach Joel Adams remembered one game, “It was against Ft. Zumwalt South in Districts, and because we were up by ten runs the game was called after five innings. Tim struck out 13 batters, snagged a line drive, and raced over by the dugout to catch a pop-up. He recorded all 15 outs in that game!”
Melville’s first taste of the minor leagues came last year, when he played in the Arizona fall league.
“In my first start I gave up a homer to the second guy I faced, it was sort of like my “welcome to the pros’ experience, but I pitched really well the rest of the fall after I got back into my rhythm,” said Melville.
He is set to report to spring training on Friday, March 6 in Surprise, Arizona, just north of Phoenix. Melville will probably end up pitching this season for the Royals A affiliate team in Burlington, Iowa, after he finishes extended spring training.
Copyright 2009 Neighbors About Town
