Nuneviller of WCU happy at Reading
Presently disabled for the second time this year
The (Coatesville) Daily Record/ Summer 1992
By Christopher Six
The Daily Record
READING -- West Chester University graduate Tom Nuneviller considers himself fortunate to be playing professionally for the organization he rooted for since he was a boy..
The former Golden Ram from Ottsville, Pa. is starting in the outfield this season for the Reading Phillies, Philadelphia Class AA Eastern League affiliate, and has been doing quite well in his third professional season.
Through Thursday, he was hitting at a .281 clip.
"About a month ago I got really hot, started to hit the ball pretty good, got my average up to .320, I think," said Nuneviller Thursday night while watching pre-game warmups. "I haven't played for a couple of weeks, so it's really hard to sit there watching all the time.
Nuneviller is currently making his second appearance on the disabled list this season, this time for a partial tear of the ligaments or tendon in his left hand.
"I have to have a brace on it for 10 days to two weeks," he said. "Hopefully after that I'll be ready to go again."
Nuneviller, who played for Florida State League champion Clearwater last season, said the biggest adjustment from college to pro ball is playing every day opposed to four games a week.
"It's just a long grind playing for the whole season," said Nuneviller. "It's extra special playing for the home team because for the most part the (opponents) are close to home."
One of the biggest differences for any ballplayer coming from college is the wooden bat. Tom Nuneviller was no exception.
"My first year when I played for Batavia I had a little trouble, some sore hands," said Nuneviller. "Get jammed, ball coming off the end of the bat, but I've come around a little bit last year and so far this year. It takes about a year or so just to get used to the difference."
For Nuneviller, his young career in the Phillies organization has been a learning experience, with a lot of fun rolled into it.
"You try to learn things every day. I learned a lot last year in my first full season," said Nuneviller. "We had the best record down in the Florida State League last year. It was really fun; we ended up getting a ring for it.
"It was a really good time last year; really good bunch of guys; so hopefully we can turn it around this season," continued Nuneviller. "Try to get into the playoffs maybe, do something like that again this year."
Nuneviller explained his role in the lineup as a jack-of-all-trades for the offensively-minded Reading team which had it's best hitter, catcher Todd Pratt, just promoted to the Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre Red Barons.
"Just try toget on base, just try to drive in some runs," said Nuneviller. "Our leading hitter just got moved up to Triple-A, he was hitting about .300 with some home runs so we have to find someone to fill his spot..
Nuneviller has no complaints about playing next to highly-publicized first-round draftees Mike Lieberthal and Tyler Green.
"It's kind of neat to see them play; you hear a lot of good things about Lieberthal. Kind of struggled his first year and a lot of people said some bad things about him," he said.
"But you see him play every day and you can tell he's a good player and that they knew what they were doing when they drafted him.
"Tyler Green, when he's on, he's got some really great stuff," he continued. "So it's good to see both of those guys and you'll probably see them in the big leagues in a couple of years."
Nuneviller feels as a team Reading hasn't yet come of it's own, but with the talent from last year's Class A Clearwater platoon, there are possibilities for the playoffs.
"Right now, it seems we're not really playing, not jelling right now so hopefully we'll turn it around," said Nuneviller.
Presently disabled for the second time this year
The (Coatesville) Daily Record/ Summer 1992
By Christopher Six
The Daily Record
READING -- West Chester University graduate Tom Nuneviller considers himself fortunate to be playing professionally for the organization he rooted for since he was a boy..
The former Golden Ram from Ottsville, Pa. is starting in the outfield this season for the Reading Phillies, Philadelphia Class AA Eastern League affiliate, and has been doing quite well in his third professional season.
Through Thursday, he was hitting at a .281 clip.
"About a month ago I got really hot, started to hit the ball pretty good, got my average up to .320, I think," said Nuneviller Thursday night while watching pre-game warmups. "I haven't played for a couple of weeks, so it's really hard to sit there watching all the time.
Nuneviller is currently making his second appearance on the disabled list this season, this time for a partial tear of the ligaments or tendon in his left hand.
"I have to have a brace on it for 10 days to two weeks," he said. "Hopefully after that I'll be ready to go again."
Nuneviller, who played for Florida State League champion Clearwater last season, said the biggest adjustment from college to pro ball is playing every day opposed to four games a week.
"It's just a long grind playing for the whole season," said Nuneviller. "It's extra special playing for the home team because for the most part the (opponents) are close to home."
One of the biggest differences for any ballplayer coming from college is the wooden bat. Tom Nuneviller was no exception.
"My first year when I played for Batavia I had a little trouble, some sore hands," said Nuneviller. "Get jammed, ball coming off the end of the bat, but I've come around a little bit last year and so far this year. It takes about a year or so just to get used to the difference."
For Nuneviller, his young career in the Phillies organization has been a learning experience, with a lot of fun rolled into it.
"You try to learn things every day. I learned a lot last year in my first full season," said Nuneviller. "We had the best record down in the Florida State League last year. It was really fun; we ended up getting a ring for it.
"It was a really good time last year; really good bunch of guys; so hopefully we can turn it around this season," continued Nuneviller. "Try to get into the playoffs maybe, do something like that again this year."
Nuneviller explained his role in the lineup as a jack-of-all-trades for the offensively-minded Reading team which had it's best hitter, catcher Todd Pratt, just promoted to the Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre Red Barons.
"Just try toget on base, just try to drive in some runs," said Nuneviller. "Our leading hitter just got moved up to Triple-A, he was hitting about .300 with some home runs so we have to find someone to fill his spot..
Nuneviller has no complaints about playing next to highly-publicized first-round draftees Mike Lieberthal and Tyler Green.
"It's kind of neat to see them play; you hear a lot of good things about Lieberthal. Kind of struggled his first year and a lot of people said some bad things about him," he said.
"But you see him play every day and you can tell he's a good player and that they knew what they were doing when they drafted him.
"Tyler Green, when he's on, he's got some really great stuff," he continued. "So it's good to see both of those guys and you'll probably see them in the big leagues in a couple of years."
Nuneviller feels as a team Reading hasn't yet come of it's own, but with the talent from last year's Class A Clearwater platoon, there are possibilities for the playoffs.
"Right now, it seems we're not really playing, not jelling right now so hopefully we'll turn it around," said Nuneviller.