THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 12, 1996 TAG: 9605120283
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
For the last three years, Kevin Gibbs was the roaring Monarch when it came to running the base paths, setting career marks at Old Dominion University for stolen bases with 134 in 150 attempts.
These days, however, he's more like the artful Dodger.
Gibbs, 22, is playing this spring for Vero Beach, the Class-A farm club for Los Angeles which plays at Dodgertown, LA's spring training facility.
``Yes, I'm still running,'' said Gibbs, who was drafted in the sixth round last summer following his junior campaign at ODU. ``But nowadays I've got to be smarter about it. The catchers are all better and the pitchers are quicker to the plate.''
After 30 games, Gibbs was carrying a .269 batting average and had swiped 14 bases in 21 attempts, ranking him fourth in stolen bases in the Florida State League. The Dodgers play in the East Division of the FSL with farm clubs of the Mets, Expos, Marlins, Cubs and Astros.
``Three of the seven times I've gotten caught stealing, I was leaning against a lefthander,'' Gibbs said. ``The moves are so much better. Sometimes I'm trying to read them. Sometimes I go on their first move. It's all a learning experience right now.''
While playing for the Dodgers' rookie club in Yakama last season, Gibbs hit Vero Beach Dodgers and with Bakersfield in the California League. He followed that up by playing in the Arizona Fall Instructional League.
The extended baseball season kept Gibbs from returning to ODU for classes in the fall; he's 24 hours shy of graduation.
``I'm hoping if I don't play fall ball again that I can get back to ODU and take 18 hours,'' Gibbs said. ``Then I'll take six hours of correspondence classes to finish up. I figure I'll graduate in '98.''
He's hoping to get his Vero Beach degree sooner.
``(Dodgers management) has told me that if I produce here they'll move me up this season,'' Gibbs said. ``I think if I can hit .290 or higher and steal somewhere in the mid-30s to upper-40s, I'll move up. The good thing about the Dodgers is if you do well they move you up quickly.''
The next step up would be Double-A San Antonio.
For now, though, Vero Beach has become a fun stop.
``Our next off day is (May 19) and I'm going to Universal Studios in Orlando,'' Gibbs said. ``I haven't been to Disney World since I was playing in an AAU basketball tournament when I was in eighth grade.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
After 30 games, Kevin Gibbs was batting .269 and had stolen 14 bases
in 21 attempts.
by CNB