[ MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ]
Sardinha gets
the call from Reds
The race is over.
Former Kamehameha catcher Dane Sardinha beat his brother Bronson -- who is in the Yankees system -- to the major leagues when he was called up from Double-A Chattanooga to the Cincinnati Reds yesterday.
Dane Sardinha was hitting .256 with three homers in 72 games for Chattanooga when he got the call. He struggled to averages of .235 and .206 sandwiched around a knee injury in his three-year professional career.
"I think my offense is improving," Sardinha told MLB.com. "It's still not where I want it to be. I still have things to learn, I think."
But his work at the plate is not what the Reds, who had an open roster spot after trading Kelly Stinnett to Philadelphia on Sunday, are looking for. Fans in the Queen City have been anxious to see his glove work since he was drafted in the second round (46th overall) in the 2000 First Year Player Draft.
Sardinha signed with the Reds on Sept. 1, 2000 and prompted Bob Boone, who was serving in the Reds front office, to rave about him.
"Sardinha can catch and throw in the big leagues right now," Boone, who won seven gold gloves in his major league career, said at the time. "He is as advanced defensively as any catcher I've seen in the three years I've been here."
Sardinha said he hopes to use the time with the big club as a head start to spring training, maybe impressing new manager Dave Miley with his skills.
Even though he has spent his pro career on the Reds' major league roster, Sardinha was surprised to get the call.
"A little bit," Sardinha told the Web site. "Not even a little bit -- a lot."
