Silverado grad a hit in minor leagues

By Jared Harmon

Friday, Sept. 12, 2008 | midnight

Life is going pretty well for Mike McDade.

As one of the most prolific sluggers in the Silverado baseball program's 14-year history, McDade is moving through the ranks of the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system while traveling the country and playing the sport he loves.

Drafted by the Blue Jays in the sixth round (205th overall) of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, McDade has been plugging away for the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays in Auburn, N.Y., and is enjoying the ride.

"It's been a lot of fun. It can feel like there's a lot of pressure sometimes, but mainly it's just fun," McDade, 19, said. "I actually like going from city to city and seeing all these places I've never been."

McDade showed potential last year in rookie ball, batting .221 in 39 games with six doubles, one home run and 17 RBIs. Management liked what they saw and promoted him to the Single-A Lansing (Mich.) Lugnuts to begin the 2008 season.

But he only batted .194 in 60 games before being sent down to the Doubledays, where he quickly improved.

At Auburn he has hit .261 through 49 games with three home runs and 27 RBIs — his best effort since hitting 14 home runs with Silverado as a senior

"One of the big things I've been taught already is to not worry about long slumps. It only makes things worse," he said. "In the beginning, I was putting a lot of pressure on myself. Now I just relax and enjoy. I've been working on my defense and figuring things out."

A catcher in high school, McDade has transitioned to first base, a position more suited for his 6-feet, 2-inch, 250-pound frame.

"I just have to stick with it," he said. "I thought it was going to be easy, but there's a lot more to it than you think. One of the main things I learned from (Silverado coach Brian) Whitaker was discipline. He taught me about putting in the work."

Whitaker expects to see McDade continue his climb through Toronto's organization as he adjusts to wooden bats and elite pitching.

"I watched Mike hit a ball at an early age and he's always had power from both sides," Whitaker said. "He was always well above his age group at every level. I've coached some great hitters, but the ball just seemed to come off Mike's bat differently. He would just smack that ball."

Jared Harmon can be reached at 990-8922 or [email protected].