THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 28, 1996 TAG: 9603280518
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
Benny Agbayani's heard just about every expected nickname involving his heritage, from Smokin' Samoan to Hawaiian Punch.
``Yeah, guys are always saying stuff like, `Book em, Dano,' '' Agbayani said following a workout session with the Norfolk Tides at the St. Lucie County Sports Complex. ``My favorite's the Hawaiian Nightmare.''
That's exactly what he's given the New York Mets brass this spring.
Agbayani, who split time between Double-A Binghamton and Class A St. Lucie last year, has stung the ball with such consistency that he's made it tougher every day for Mets director of minor league operations Jack Zduriencik to bump him out, even though there is an overflow of outfield talent in the Tides' camp.
``I'm making a major push to keep him,'' Tides manager Bobby Valentine said. ``He has shown a lot of promise this spring and I think he's on the verge of turning the corner.
``But with only a 23-man roster and having been told that we'll carry 11 pitchers, the numbers might move him to Double-A.''
Agbayani had the fifth-highest batting average in the Mets' minor league organization last season, combining to hit .287 at his two stops while stealing 20 bases, which Valentine considers astounding given Agbayani's body composition.
``I remember hearing reports of this line-drive hitting outfielder with good speed,'' Valentine said. ``Then camp opens and one of the other coaches points at the back of some guy the first day and says, `That's Benny.'
``I just thought to myself, `So that's what a line-drive hitting, fast guy looks like. That's interesting.' ''
The 5-foot-11 Agbayani, who packs 210 pounds around a low center of gravity, realizes first looks can be deceiving. And he tries his best to use it to his advantage.
``People are always thinking I can't run,'' said Agbayani, a 30th-round pick by the Mets in 1993. ``I'd rather pitchers not give me any respect. I hope they keep looking at me and thinking, `No way. Not at that size.' ''
Quite honestly, Agbayani looks more like a football player. In fact, younger brother Brendyn plays fullback at the University of Hawaii.
``There have been some pretty good Samoan football players who've made it to the NFL - Jesse Sapolu, Kurt Gouveia, Mark Tuinei,'' said Agbayani, who is also part Hawaiian and part Filipino. ``And they've all got Super Bowl rings, too.''
Agbayani, 24, would love to be the first Samoan to make it to the major leagues.
To take another step in that direction this season, Valentine hinted Agbayani likely will have to improve his power numbers.
``Sometimes a guy with line-drive capability is not what an organization is looking for at the Triple-A level,'' said Valentine, who readily admits Agbayani has swung one of the noisiest bats in camp. ``He only had one home run at Binghamton last year (in 295 at-bats), although he's shown a lot of power this year.''
Agbayani, who homered Monday in an exhibition game with the Richmond Braves, says he's tried to be ``very selective'' this spring at the plate and it's paid off.
``Plus, Bobby's got me using more of my legs and hips and that's added some kick to my swing.''
But how much the spring training power surge has helped Agbayani will be determined in the next few days. And it might not be enough to overcome a crowded outfield.
``I'm not too worried about where I end up,'' Agbayani said. ``If it's Norfolk, that's a great thing. But Binghamton might be better for me if I'm given the chance to swing the bat four times a night.''
If it's Norfolk, Agbayani will have a ticket waiting for a relative April 4 for opening night at Harbor Park.
``My uncle Himmy is retired from the Air Force and lives in Woodbridge,'' Agbayani said. ``How far is that from Norfolk?''
NOTES: The Mets on Wednesday acquired catcher Chris Howard from Montreal for a player to be named, and assigned Howard to Norfolk. In another move, outfielder Tracy Sanders was traded to California also for a player to be named. In a nine-inning exhibition game, the Tides defeated Charlotte 6-4, beating Cuban phenom Livan Hernandez in the process. The Florida Marlins sent Hernandez to Triple-A, saying he needs to build arm strength and get his velocity back to the 93-95 mph range at which he was clocked during winter ball in the Dominican Republic. ILLUSTRATION: L. TODD SPENCER
Benny Agbayani hopes to become the first major leaguer from Samoa.
But first, he would like to make it in Norfolk.
by CNB