https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Former-ValleyCat-on-verge-of-hitting-streak-record-13015511.php
Former ValleyCat sets hitting-streak record
Cesar bats safely in 38th straight game in Texas League
Updated 9:12 pm, Thursday, June 21, 2018
Troy
Randy Cesar batted .389 over 30 games for the Tri-City ValleyCats two seasons ago, so it’s not exactly news to Capital Region fans that the man can hit.
But what he’s doing for the Corpus Christi Hooks, the Houston Astros’ Double-A affiliate, is historic.
Cesar, a third baseman, broke the Texas League record tonight by extending his hitting streak to 38 games with a first-inning double to left against the Frisco Roughriders. The previous mark of 37 in a row was established by El Paso's Bobby Trevino in 1969.
The Texas League was founded in 1888.
“For me personally, a hitting streak like that is one of the most impressive statistics in baseball,’’ ValleyCats manager Jason Bell said before tonight's game against the Lowell Spinners. “I think especially with how the minor-league schedule is set up and especially in the Texas League, with all the crazy travel, that it’s just completely impressive.”
Cesar, 23, played under Bell for part of last season when Bell was the player development coach for the Class A Quad Cities River Bandits. Cesar hit .302 in 27 games for Quad Cities before being promoted to Class A advanced Buies Creek, where he batted .295 the rest of the season.
“What people will forget is, he actually came off to a slow start last year in Quad Cities and through the first couple of weeks, he was having good at-bats,’’ Bell said. “He just wasn’t having great success. But with him, he just always stays even-keeled. That’s kind of who he is. He worked on his swing, some minor adjustments that made a huge difference.”
Bell said that consistent temperament is probably serving Cesar well under the pressure of a prolonging a hitting streak. Cesar signed with the Astros out of the Dominican Republic in 2012.
“I think a lot of times it depends on a personality,’’ Bell said. “Randy Cesar is pretty even-keeled, he’s never too high or too low, and I think to continue a streak that like that’s probably the demeanor you have to have, especially as teams start to notice you’re the guy with the streak. They’re starting to pitch you differently. “
Bell said it also helps that Cesar is in a strong Corpus Christi lineup that helps him see better pitches. He's batting .351 after his hit tonight.
Tonight, Cesar broke the record with a double off Frisco starter Tyler Wagner, who has appeared in six major-league games for the Brewers and Diamondbacks.
msingelais@timesunion.com ■ 518-454-5509 ■ @MarkSingelais
