Ryan Shealy once was Todd Helton’s understudy.
He powered his way through the Rockies’ farm system, hitting 88 home runs in his first four seasons in the organization. In 2005, he had a productive first appearance in a Rockies uniform, hitting .330 in 36 games, with nine extra-base hits and 16 RBIs.
Those were good numbers, but not good enough to dislodge Helton. But other teams came calling and Shealy was dealt to the Kansas City Royals.
He’s still waiting for a full-time assignment in the major leagues.
Shealy is playing for Omaha of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. He’s facing the task of impressing the Royals again after a disastrous 2007 season.
“I was traded over here in 2006 and played the last two months in the big leagues,” Shealy said last week on the road in Portland, Ore. “I started on opening day last year, but I didn’t play well right out of the chute. I was on the disabled list twice. It was just a bad year.”
Shealy didn’t make the Royals out of spring training this year and has been in Omaha all season. As the season moved into August, Shealy was hitting pretty well, with an average in the .290s. His 15 home runs and 45 RBIs rank among the leaders on the Omaha roster.
The Rockies drafted Shealy out of the University of Florida in the 11th round of the 2002 June draft. He shocked the short-season Pioneer League with 19 home runs in his first pro season, hitting .368 with 70 RBIs in 69 games.
In 2003, Shealy moved up three notches to Visalia of the Single-A California League. He hit a respectable .299 with 46 extra-base hits and 73 RBIs.
The 6-foot-5, 240-pound first baseman had a banner year in 2004, playing for Tulsa in the Double-A Texas League. His 29 home runs and 99 RBIs led the league, and he hit .318. The following year, in his first season in Triple-A with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Shealy hit .328, with 58 extra-base hits and 88 RBIs before being called up to the Rockies.
“As a player, all you can ask for is an opportunity,” Shealy said. “Coming over here gave me an opportunity, but I didn’t make the most of it last year. I feel good and I hope I’ll get another chance with the Royals. The big key for me is staying healthy. When I’m healthy, everything else works out.”
Shealy keeps track of the Rockies and stays in contact with some of his former teammates. He knows that Garrett Atkins has moved from third base to first base because Helton is on the disabled list.
If he hadn’t moved on, maybe it would be his turn at first base with the Rockies.
“That’s baseball,” Shealy said. “I know that Atkins is going to hit no matter where he plays in the field.”
