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2004 season All Raburn wants to do is
"play ball" Ryan Raburn is a self-professed baseball junkie.
"I don't really have a drive to do much anything else besides play baseball," said the Detroit Tigers 23-year-old second base prospect, now playing for the Grand Canyon Rafters of the Arizona Fall League. The ability to play the game was almost taken away from Raburn two years ago when he dislocated his hip in an off-season all-terrain vehicle accident. "It made me realize how much I love the game," Raburn said about his time away from baseball, "especially when there was a good chance that I might not play again. It just put things in perspective. Baseball's my life." Raburn talked about the fears that he wouldn't again be able to play baseball, stating, "That's one of the feelings that you don't want to feel." The Plant City, Florida native recovered in time to get into 48 games in the 2002 season, his second year with the Detroit organization after being selected in the fifth round of the 2001 free agent draft. A third baseman since his junior college days at South Florida Community College, Raburn was moved to second base during the 2003 Fall Instructional League season. The move has been a big boost to the right-handed hitter's career. He just finished his best season as a pro, batting .301/.390/533 with 16 homeruns for the Tigers' Class AA affiliate in Erie, Pennsylvania. Making the switch to second base was a return to familiar territory for Raburn. "I always played the middle infield growing up," said Raburn. "When me and my brother (Milwaukee Brewers minor leaguer Johnny Raburn) played together, he played shortstop and I played second ... so it's a little easier there (than third base) ... I think it's just a little better getting back in the middle infield." Raburn's solid 2004 season, one in which he earned a late season call up to the big league club in Detroit, has earned him comparisons to Houston second baseman Jeff Kent. "Any time you get compared to a big league hitter that's got a name for himself, it's a great compliment," commented Raburn. "But I just try to go out there and do my best. If the numbers are there, the numbers are there. I just try not to do too much." Besides, Raburn would prefer to be compared to another second baseman, former Chicago Cub Ryne Sandberg, who was his favorite player growing up.
Regardless of whether it's Kent or Sandberg, Raburn has the ability to develop into the same kind of power-hitting second baseman. But he prefers to look forward to the day when he's known more as a well-rounded ballplayer. "I want to make it where it's the whole package," said Raburn, "and not just one thing that gets me up there ... steal some bases ... make the plays ... drive in some runs ... and not be a guy just known for hitting." Raburn has the drive and the desire to get his game to that point. "You've always got to get better at everything," he stated. "You can never be satisfied with where you're at." The brief time that he spent in the major leagues was a valuable learning experience for Raburn. "One of the biggest things I learned was trying to slow the game down," he said. "You get up there, and your adrenaline is pumping and your heart is racing a hundred miles per hour. You just try to calm down ... If you're good enough to play up there, things will work out." Raburn is planning to use his time in the Arizona Fall League to gain more experience at second base and get more comfortable at the position. Then it will be back home to Florida, where he will spend the off-season working out, as well as spending time with his other passions --- hunting and fishing. "I'm just a country boy at heart," concluded Raburn. --- Bill Mitchell All photos on the Arizona Fall League Report are credited to Bill Mitchell, unless noted otherwise, and are not to be used for any other purpose without express permission.
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