Major Leagues: Parnell has high expectations for 2010

By Bret Strelow

bstrelow@salisburypost.com

Bobby Parnell repositioned himself closer to the first-base bag prior to the final pitch, then snagged a game-ending line drive.

Parnell was a corner infielder when he secured the last out for Rowan County in the 2002 American Legion state tournament at Newman Park. Third baseman Bryan Graham wanted Parnell to celebrate by throwing the ball over the scoreboard, but he handed the souvenir to pitcher Julian Sides.

When Rowan and Catawba coach Jim Gantt recalls Parnell's playing days at Newman Park, that moment comes to mind. Parnell, an East Rowan High School graduate who is now a pitcher with the New York Mets, worked out on the same field for most of the last month.

"I remember every day he was the first one to the ballpark and I could judge the time on when he got here because he was always the first one here," Gantt said. "He always worked at it. I just had no idea he was going to be able to harness his pitching like he has, but he always had that great arm."

Parnell won four games and earned one save in 68 appearances, including eight starts, with the Mets last season. He was one of 14 players who traveled to Port St. Lucie, Fla., for a minicamp that ended Wednesday.

Mets prospect Tim Smith, a former Catawba star, warmed up with Parnell in the outfield grass of Newman Park on Thursday.

"I enjoy coming out here," Parnell said. "Gantt's nice enough to open up the field for me, and I've got Tim Smith to throw with every day. He's a hard worker who pushes me a little bit, and that's fun to have. Just to be able to hang out with these guys and be in a baseball atmosphere, it's really helpful."

Parnell tries to blend in with everyone else when he shows up at Catawba. An avid outdoorsman who spent part of his offseason hunting in the northeast corner of the state, he wore a mesh Bass Pro Shops cap as he threw Thursday.

Parnell handed out gifts to school children in New York at Christmas, and some Catawba players display the same wide-eyed appreciation.

"They kind of walk around in awe because they know he's a big leaguer," Gantt said. "The thing about him, they realize he's just like them. He hasn't changed a bit.

"Just watching him, you can tell it's a big leaguer the way he throws it. It's just different. He's got a presence, but he's still the same Bobby that played Legion ball. He doesn't have an ego or anything."

Gantt laughed as he talked about moving Parnell from third base to the other corner because of his propensity for sailing throws over the first baseman's head.

Parnell went to Charleston Southern and was an important pitcher for the Legion team following his freshman year of college. The Mets selected him in the ninth round of the 2005 draft and called him up in September of 2008.

He was an effective reliever during his first full season in the majors, made his first start on Aug. 8 and pitched six shutout innings against the San Francisco Giants six days later. He threw seven shutout innings against the Chicago Cubs and returned to the bullpen after a few rough outings.

"To be able to face big league hitters and have success, throw a pitch by them or throw a slider in the dirt and get them to swing through it, to be able to do it, it's something you didn't know if you could do it," Parnell said. "To be able to do it, I guess it's a cumulation of what you've worked for."

Parnell said he has higher expectations for himself in 2010 after learning his arm was strong enough to work out of the bullpen on back-to-back days without trouble. The Mets hope to improve as well after finishing an injury-riddled season at 72-90.

They have added left fielder Jason Bay, outfielder Gary Matthews and Japanese relief pitcher Ryota Igarashi to their roster.

"Getting Bay in the corner for us, he's going to help out a lot," Parnell said. "He's got some speed and got a good bat. Getting (Jose) Reyes back healthy, everybody coming back healthy, that's the key for us. If we get Reyes on base, we're going to score some runs.

"We've got great guys and a great team. If we can stay healthy, we'll be all right."