SPRINGDALE - Brett Eibner is glad to finally be playing center field for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. He just wishes his Class AA debut had happened before the Naturals’ 2013 opener against Midland at 6 tonight at Arvest Ballpark.
“I’m not going to lie. I thought I’d be here sooner,” said Eibner, a second-round draft pick by the Kansas City Royals in 2010 after starring at the University of Arkansas. “Injuries haven’t helped that, and my performance in the process that the Royals had for me, the path that they want. But I’m just glad to still be playing this game.”
What Eibner, 24, wants more than anything is to stay healthy for an entire season. He hasn’t been able to enjoy an injury-free season since 2009, when he was a sophomore at Arkansas.
“The last two years, I don’t really think have shown the type of player I am,” Eibner said. “I’m out to prove something.”
Eibner played the last five weeks of the 2010 season at Arkansas with two fractured bones in his right hand after being hit by a pitch from Ole Miss’ Drew Pomeranz. He still finished his last college season with a .333 batting average, 22 home runs - including one off Pomeranz after being hit - and 71 RBI.
After Eibner signed with the Royals, the organization decided to shut him down for the rest of 2010 so his hand could heal, delaying the start of his professional career.
Eibner then tore a ligament his left thumb while making a diving catch in the second game of the 2011 season playing for Class A Kane County (Ill.) and was limited to 76 games. Last year in spring training he injured his left shoulder diving for a ball. He began the 2012 season on the disabled listed and played in 120 games for advanced Class A Wilmington (Del.)
“I like to play hard every pitch,” Eibner said, “but I’m figuring out when to make that diving play and be smarter about it.”
When Eibner was able to play the past two seasons, he showed good power with 27home runs and 84 RBI in 196 games, but he hit .203 with 255 strikeouts in 695 at-bats.
Learning how to hit as a professional while coming back from injuries affected his confidence.
“I think I let a little doubt creep in,” Eibner said. “I felt like with the injuries, I didn’t know if I had the same bat speed or had to compensate for my left arm.
“Now I feel great. My confidence is back to where I felt like I was when I was at the top of my game.”
Naturals hitting coach Nelson Lirano worked with Eibner last season and said he hit .300 in his final month at Wilmington by taking a more aggressive approach early in at-bats and being more selective in two-strike counts. Eibner said he also has shortened his swing.
“I’ve been able to hit the ball more on a line,” he said. “I know if I make more contact, my average is going to jump.”
Naturals Manager Brian Poldberg said Eibner cut down on his strikeouts “tremendously” in spring training.
“I think he’s very confident in the adjustments he’s made,” Poldberg said. “He had a great spring offensively. It’s just a matter of continuing to do that.”
Eibner’s offensive struggles didn’t affect his defense. Last month he received the Frank White Award, which honors the top defensive player in the Royals organization. He had a .977 fielding percentage with five assists last season.
“It’s going to be nice having Brett roaming in the outfield,” Poldberg said.
Sports, Pages 17 on 04/04/2013