The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A STELLAR season for Anfernee Seymour thus far has earned him an All-Star appearance in his second season of Minor League Baseball.

Seymour represented the Batavia Muckdogs in the New York-Penn League All-Star game at  Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, Maryland, on Tuesday night. He finished 1-2 and scored two runs to help the North to a 4-2 lead over the South at the Class-A Short Season circuit’s midseason classic.

The North team scored three runs in the first inning, and eventually held on for the win. Seymour got the run started when he was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. He stole second and eventually came around to score on Muckdog’s teammate Brad Haynal’s RBI single. The 20-year-old shortstop has hit .298 with a team-high 19 runs scored and 14 stolen bases in 17 attempts.

The Muckdogs are an affiliate of the Miami Marlins based in Batavia, New York, and a member of the New York-Penn League.

Ranked as one of the top prospects in the Miami Marlins organisation, this summer could present a major opportunity for Anfernee Seymour to progress within the franchise.

Seymour saw his stock rise after a successful season for the Marlins in rookie play and he rose as high as No.26 on the Marlins 2015 Prospect Watch list by MLBpipeline.com. He was taken by the Marlins with the 197th pick in round seven of the 2014 MLB Draft.

Seymour saw his stock rise after a successful season for the Marlins in rookie play and he rose as high as No.26 on the Marlins 2015 Prospect Watch list by MLBpipeline.com.

Seymour was given a grade of 40 by MLB Pipeline, with his highest grades including a “Run” grade of 80, “Arm” grade of 60, and both “Field” and “Hit” grades of 45.

“Speed changes the game,” said Seymour, who has been clocked at 6.24 in the 60-yard dash. “I’ve noticed pitchers won’t throw me too much offspeed -- they’ll try to make me get myself out. Infielders come in, play halfway, outfield comes and plays halfway. When I get on base, pitchers slide-step - they don’t really hold. Everyone here, they’ve already got the memo that I’m fast, so you’ve got to be quick, you’ve got to watch out. It’s no secret now. I’ve just got to play every day, try to find a way on.”

In his first minor league season he hit .245 in 98 at-bats for the Marlins’ Gulf-Coast League affiliate while leading the team in stolen bases with 11. He recorded 24 hits, scored 24 runs with three RBI and an on-base percentage of .333. In his 26 games, he appeared in 15 at outfielder and nine at shortstop.

“Where I was last year, there was no one to really play for. So you really have to focus and get zoned in. Now that you have fans, you have something to play for - people cheering you on. It’s really fun and really makes you want to play every day. I didn’t know I had this many fans,” Seymour said. “It’s a challenge, but I’m definitely up to it. I’m just working every day to get better. It’s obvious they know what they’re doing with me, so I’m just trusting the process and going with the flow.”