July 24, 2008
Batista Happy To Be Here
The wait lasted far longer than infielder Wilson Batista, Bluefish general manager Todd Marlin or manager Tommy John ever anticipated. Never did they imagine that it would take roughly three months for Batista to receive a visa.
The Bluefish filed the necessary paperwork in the final week of May. Marlin expected Batista to join the team May 28. Instead, he was given the runaround by those at the consulate in the Dominican Republic.
Batista ultimately received a visa July 14. He arrived in Bridgeport two days later and passed a physical July 17 before officially joining the Bluefish last Friday.
``I feel so bad,’’ Batista said. ``I wanted to come early and I wanted to be in spring training. I want to do my job. The consulate in the Dominican … I don’t know what’s going on. But I think they didn’t want me to come. But they gave me my visa and now I’m here and I’m excited about it.’’
Batista, 27, said he had been working out a couple of times a week at home. Entering tonight’s series opener against the first half Liberty Division champion Camden Riversharks, Batista was hitting .278 (5-for-18) with a double, three RBIs and three runs scored in four games.
He has provided the Bluefish with instant flexibility, with John having already him at second base, shortstop and third base. Also, Batista has experienced no discomfort in his surgically right hand.
``I want to do a really good job here because my agent tells me maybe then something good will happen next year,’’ Batista said. ``I’m going to try to put up good numbers here. I’m ready to go.’’
Rich
Posted by Elliott on July 24, 2008 9:23 PM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://forum.connpost.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1572
