Hall hits maiden home run
Adam Hall launched the first home run of his professional baseball career for Aberdeen Ironbirds in the minor leagues on Wednesday night.
Hall’s big hit came in the second inning of a 5-2 win over Lowell Spinners in the New York-Penn League — “A” Class-level baseball — in front of 2,338 spectators at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, Maryland.
The 19-year-old became the first Bermudian to turn professional when he signed a $1.3 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles in the Major League Baseball Draft in 2017.
His journey in the sport began at the YAO baseball programme at Southside under coach Phil Ray before being given the opportunity by the late Tom MacNeil to hone his skills further by competing with older players.
Hall moved to Canada aged 12 to pursue his baseball dreams, playing for the London Badgers in Ontario, a youth team that has produced three major-leaguers and countless other professional players.
The shortstop has played 44 games for the Ironbirds this season, making 156 plate appearances, with an average of .256 including one home run and 14 RBIs. He has scored 19 runs and is the team’s joint leader with nine stolen bases. Hall featured only twice for the Gulf Coast League Orioles in Minor League Baseball last season because of injury.
The Ironbirds, fourth in the standings with 24 wins and 31 defeats, were scheduled to face the Spinners again at home last night.