Slagle Getting Summer Opportunities With Bees – Baseball at The Hive

By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

Tate Slagle got some opportunities for Iowa as a freshman this season.

The summer with the Burlington Bees is a chance for Slagle to build on that.

It’s why getting the Opening Day start for the Bees in the May 26 opener against the Normal CornBelters was a big deal for the right-hander from Algona.

“Coming off the college season, where I struggled a little bit, it was good to come in here, bounce back,” Slagle said.

Slagle has made two starts for the Bees, throwing two innings in the season opener, then three in last Tuesday’s win over the Clinton LumberKings. He has struck out six while not allowing an earned run in his starts, and his time on the mound is going to grow. He threw 42 pitches in his first start, 53 in his second.

“I think we’re going to start not worrying about the pitch count, just pitch as much as I can,” Slagle said. “I think the big thing for me is to build up confidence, whether it goes good or bad out there, just keep finding the zone, keep throwing strikes.”

“He’s efficient with throwing strikes, and if he does walk guys, he’s really good at making pitches and getting out of innings,” Bees manager Owen Oreskovich said. “He’s a competitor. He’s a guy I want on the mound.”

Slagle was 1-0 with 6.94 earned run average in 15 appearances for the Hawkeyes this season, striking out 16 in 11 ⅔ innings. He threw a scoreless inning of relief against Kansas State, striking out two, in his first college outing on February 13.

“You have to take advantage of your opportunities,” Slagle said. “As a freshman at the Division I level, you’re not going to get as many opportunities as you want. So you have to take advantage of those opportunities when you can get them. It’s the best thing you can do.”

Slagle had an impressive three-sport career at Algona High School. He was a four-time all-district selection in football and qualified for the state wrestling tournament four times.

Slagle’s father, Chad, is Algona’s baseball coach and helped introduce his son to the sport.

“I’ve been doing it my whole life,” Slagle said. “My dad brought the game to me. I’ve always enjoyed it, and he’s always worked with me.”

Slagle hit .505 and had a 1.03 ERA as a senior at Algona. He is the program’s all-time leader in runs batted in with 136, and holds the single-season RBI record with 46.

Being on the wrestling team, though, has also played a big role in Slagle’s career.

“It brought me a lot of toughness, a lot of mental toughness,” he said.

Slagle isn’t just a pitcher for the Bees. He has played seven games in the infield, batting .176, although he went 2-for-3 in Sunday’s loss at Quincy.

“I really want to get as many at-bats as possible,” Slagle said.

“It’s good to have guys who can play different spots,” Oreskovich said. “It’s better when you can pitch, and pitch well.”

That’s Slagle’s goal this summer, facing hitters in the wood-bat Prospect League.

“On the pitching side, you don’t have to change anything. Just attack hitters,” he said. “You have to command the (strike) zone. It doesn’t matter if you throw hard if you’re not hitting your spots. That’s what I want to do.”

Top photo: Tate Slagle has made two starts for the Burlington Bees, including getting the call as the pitcher for the season opener. (Photo by Steve Cirinna)