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2004 season Teahen using AFL time to
introduce himself to Royals Many baseball observers believe that the Kansas City Royals' third baseman of the future is on display right now in the Arizona Fall League. He's putting on quite a show.
Mark Teahen is batting .387/.450/.570 for the division-leading Phoenix Desert Dogs, as well as playing a solid, and sometimes dazzling, third base. Teahen's performance in Arizona comes as no surprise to those who have been following his career since he was selected in the supplemental first round (39th pick overall) in the 2002 draft as part of the Oakland Athletics' well-documented "Moneyball" draft. The Royals fan internet bulletin boards have been abuzz with discussion on Teahen and his future in Kansas City since the beginning of the AFL season. While he's garnered as much publicity as anyone from that 2002 draft, largely because of comparisons to Jason Giambi in the Michael Lewis book, "Moneyball," Teahen is still somewhat of an unknown commodity to his new organization. Kansas City manager Tony Pena was in Arizona last week for his induction into the AFL Hall of Fame, and spent some time at the ballpark watching the Royals prospects on the Desert Dogs squad. "It was the first time they had seen me play," said Teahen, in reference to the Royals big league staff, including Pena. "I think they were just getting a feel for the way I got about things." If Teahen or anyone else was looking for any clues as to whether the 6'3", 210 pound left-handed hitter would be the front runner for the starting third base job next spring, it didn't come from anyone associated with the Kansas City organization. "No, they didn't give me any insight on my role next year," replied the native of southern California, "or where I'll start out ... But they helped me and showed me a few different things they thought I could work on." What Pena and associates undoubtedly saw in Teahen was his serious yet relaxed approach to the game. "I definitely like to practice a little 'relaxed intensity' on the field," stated Teahen. "I make sure I'm in the game, but have fun at the same time. I enjoy the clubhouse and hanging out with the guys." Teahen is still finding his way around the Royals organization after being acquired from Oakland as part of the big three-team deal that sent Carlos Beltran from Kansas City to Houston and reliever Octavio Dotel from Houston to Oakland. That deal uprooted Teahen from an organization in which he'd been very comfortable since signing immediately after the 2002 draft after completing his baseball career at St. Mary's University. But he wasn't at all surprised that he was traded.
"I anticipated it a little bit when (Eric) Chavez signed his deal in spring training," said Teahen, referring to the multi-year contract signed by the Athletics' star third baseman. "The writing was on the wall. I thought I'd be traded sooner or later." What did surprise Teahen was how quickly it happened, coming just a few months into the season. "It was a little bit of a surprise to go that quickly," said Teahen. "I really found out the same as everyone else. I was watching Baseball Tonight and Peter Gammons mentioned my name, so it was definitely exciting." "Adjustment-wise, it was a big change leaving everything you know and people you know," continued Teahen. " ... guys you grew up playing with the first two to three years. It's definitely an adjustment, but I'm enjoying it and liking the Royals so far." If Teahen continues to develop the power that the Athletics expected from him, the Royals will undoubtedly like him, too. "It's definitely a work in progress," said the 23-year-old Teahen, about his emerging power. "In my first full season I hit three homeruns. Last year I hit 14 between AA and AAA, so I think it's coming around. I'm constantly working to improve." Teahen has smacked two long balls in 93 AFL at bats, while doubling five times and hitting three triples. He's tied with Philadelphia slugger Ryan Howard for the team lead in RBIs with 22. The power and ability to drive the ball really started to emerge last Fall while working with the Oakland staff in Instructional League. "With the A's, I got a lot of hitting help from Keith Lieppman and Greg Sparks," said Teahen, " ... actually their whole minor league staff." The extra work last Fall carried Teahen into the regular season, as he broke loose in AA by hitting .335/.419/.543, with six homeruns in 193 at bats for Midland of the Texas League, before earning a promotion to AAA Sacramento. Teahen got into only 20 games there before the trade moved him over to the Royals AAA affiliate in Omaha. Regardless of where he's playing, Teahen is content because he's doing what he really loves. "I really respect the game and try to go about it the right away," commented Teahen. " ... respect what guys have done in the past and hopefully keep the national pastime the number one sport in America." --- 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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