Ex-Gator Hermansen bound for The Show

Thursday, Jan. 30, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

The Pittsburgh Pirates haven't had an All-Star shortstop capable of consistently driving in runs since Dick Groat and Gene Alley in the 1960s.

They may have another one -- perhaps as early as 1998 -- in Hermansen, the former Green Valley star who some scouts consider the best infielder currently playing in the minors.

By the turn of the century, about the time the Pirates hope to move into a new ballpark and be competitive again, they expect Hermansen to be a star. He might not be the next Rodriguez, who hit .358 with 36 homers for Seattle last season, but they don't expect him to be the next Sammy Khalifa or Rey Quinones, either.

"He's so young, but so very good," said Paul Tinnell, the Pirates' director of player development. "He's just a guy who immediately makes adjustments at every level we've put him at. We've moved him very quickly, and he has handled everything we've thrown at him."

A first-round pick in the June 1995 draft, Hermansen is only 19 but expects to begin this season at Double-A Carolina. He could be at Triple-A by late season and in Pittsburgh by 1998.

"It really is mind-boggling," said Hermansen, who had 24 homers and 87 RBIs in 477 at-bats for two Class A teams last season. "I was confident I could come into pro ball and play well. But if you told me in high school I'd have 33 homers in my first two seasons ... well, I would have told you no way. It's really been unbelievable."

Hermansen was 17 when he broke in at rookie league Bradenton and short-season Class A Erie in 1995, but he already has been voted the top prospect in three different leagues in a poll of minor-league managers.

He has both power and speed, stealing 16 bases in 20 attempts last season. His biggest problem is defense; despite making rapid significant improvement in the Hawaii Winter League, he made 53 errors at Class A Lynchburg and Augusta last season.

Still, the Pirates have no plans to switch Hermansen to third base or the outfield.

"It's common for young shortstops to make a lot of errors when they first come into professional baseball," Tinnell said. "Chad is coming along with his defense, and I really believe he will play shortstop in the majors."

As long as Hermansen hits, the Pirates will find a place for him to play -- even if his defense isn't reminiscent of Alley, their Gold Glove shortstop in the mid- to late 1960s.

"It used to be that teams just wanted a shortstop who played good defense," Hermansen said. "But that's changing. It's becoming an offensive position. Look at the incredible numbers Alex Rodriguez put up in Seattle. ... That's the kind of player I would like to be in the major leagues."

Even if he has another big season in the minors, he probably won't be called up to Pittsburgh in September. If he did, the Pirates would be forced to protect him in the November expansion draft.

"I take it as a compliment when people say nice things about me and how they feel I could become a star player in the majors," said Hermansen. "But I don't really take it seriously. Right now, I'm just concentrating on the things I need to do to get better and reach the major leagues."