Wednesday, January 23, 2002

[ MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ]

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Agbayani excited about
being with Rockies

The St. Louis and HPU star now
gets to play at Coors Field

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By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com

That No. 50 won't be quite the same on the back of a Colorado Rockies jersey, and a whole new region of the country will have to learn to pronounce his name.

Benny Agbayani played major league baseball for New York since 1998. But he was a Met his entire professional career, going back to 1993. Never considered a big league prospect, Agbayani played for the franchise's farm teams in Pittsfield, St. Lucie, Binghamton and Norfolk.

He climbed the ladder with other players, coaches and administrative personnel, some of whom also made it to the highest rung. Although Agbayani wasn't always happy about his playing time or his salary, the Mets organization became his baseball family and home.

"There will be new faces in the stands and new teammates, but it will be exciting." Benny Agbayani Traded to the Rockies

Now, after Monday's trade, the 30-year-old outfielder from Hawaii is a member of the Rockies. The former St. Louis School and Hawaii Pacific standout said that will take some getting used to. He will miss New York but looks forward to new challenges and opportunities.

"There will be new faces in the stands and new teammates, but it will be exciting," Agbayani said. "I've adapted everywhere I've been."

He spoke by phone from Arizona, where he was working out with Mets batting instructor Tom Robson. Agbayani said he will meet with Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd on Friday.

Other than road trips, Agbayani hasn't spent much time in the Denver area. He said he doesn't know many people in the Rockies organization.

"I know Todd Helton. Of course I know (former Mets) Mike Hampton and Todd Zeile. But not that many other guys."

He said he is excited about playing at Coors Field, where he hit his first major league homer and has batted .375 in 32 at-bats.

"It's a great hitter's park, and I'm looking forward to that," Agbayani said. "But I don't want to change anything with my swing, just let it happen naturally."

Tracy Ringolsby of The Rocky Mountain News wrote that Agbayani will be the No. 1 outfield backup to Larry Walker, Juan Pierre and Todd Hollandsworth. They are all left-handed hitters, so the right-handed Agbayani will likely see plenty of action against lefties, perhaps platooning with Hollandsworth.