Nick DelGuidice's .471 average leads the Arizona Rookie League.

Desert scorcher

Former Owl Friday After signing with the Royals organization as a free agent following the 2011 draft, Nick DelGuidice is off to as good a start as anyone could have hoped.

Originally published on 7/15/2011

by Chuck King

After playing his college career in South Florida, shortstop Nick DelGuidice figured he could play in the heat.

But after making his way around Surprise, Ariz., spring training home of the Kansas City Royals and current home of his rookie league team, the former FAU shortstop is finding plenty of differences.

Like tumbleweed and Astroturf in the middle of the city where real grass would normally be. Welcome to the desert.

“They say its a dry heat – I keep hearing that - but 115 is hot,” said DelGuidice.

Part of it may be his own fault - his bat may be adding a degree or two to the desert temperature. DelGuidice is tearing up the Arizona Rookie League, hitting a league-leading .471 over 17 games. His 17 RBI are second in the league and only three players have stroked more than DelGuidice's three round trippers.

For a player who signed as a free agent after the 2011 draft, he's off to the kind of start that could make members of the Kansas City organization take notice.

“The way I joined I wanted to prove the point that I think I'm good enough to play for Kansas City,”  DelGuidice said. “The Royals gave me a shot. I just wanted to get off to a good start and prove that they were right.”

And DelGuidice is off to the hot start while learning a new position. After starting 174 consecutive games at shortstop in his FAU career, most of his games as pro have come at third base, while a couple more have been at second.

“I've never played (third) before this year,” DelGuidice said. “I like being in the line-up, so I'll play wherever they put me.”

With plenty of playing time and a hot bat, DelGuidice is enjoying his transition to professional baseball.

“It's been a lot of fun,” DelGuidice said. “In college, sometimes you are at practice and you think, man, I have to go  home and write that paper or I have class afterward. Here, all you think about is baseball.”
 

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