Alaska Baseball League profiles: Peninsula's Ruhm, Chugiak's Lagos

Brian Ruhm, right fielder
Peninsula Oilers
Cal Baptist

Ruhm, of Yucaipa, California, hit .307 with 25 RBIs and 10 steals in 127 at-bats last season as a sophomore for Cal Baptist.

This is your second year in the ABL. What brought you back?

"You can't get much different than Alaska coming from Southern California. I've always loved the outdoors and stuff, so when I got the opportunity last year, I jumped on it. Just like I thought, I had a blast so I had to come back up.

"I'm just having a blast again. I really enjoy it up here."

Being a veteran of the team, were guys asking about what to expect coming into the season?

"Definitely. Right when I got on the bus — we have another player who came back from last year, (Alex) Seifert — and we got on the bus and we just immediately started talking to all the guys about how much fun they're gonna have.

"I think that kind of helped this year. Last year everyone kind of came in not knowing much. We had a brand-new coaching staff. Now, we got a returning coaching staff, a couple returning players and I think that helps out a lot."

What's a strength of your game?

"I'm swinging the bat better this year than I did last summer. Last year was my first full year as an outfielder, so it was a little tough. I was getting used to it. This year, my defense has definitely improved.

"I like moving out to the outfield, letting me use my speed a little more rather than at second base."

[Mariners executive Allison got his start on Alaska diamonds]

Coach said you've been a little banged up this season. What's been going on?

"I've been kind of banged up all summer. The first month went smoothly and then I was in a pretty bad collision with our second baseman. Then my first game back from that I rolled both my ankles. Then about three games ago I sprained it again.

"So I'm pretty much shut down for the rest of the summer. So I'm just here kind of as a bench coach I guess you would say, and just helping out the guys and making sure everyone is locked in."

Do you have any baseball superstitions?

"I'm kind of weird like that. I probably take it further than most people do. I have tons of routines — I couldn't even tell you all of them.

"I don't wash my socks — basic stuff like that. I put on my helmet the same way every time, put on my batting gloves the same way every time, I have a routine in the on-deck circle before I get up to bat. When I'm in right field warming up, we always throw the same amount of throws between innings and then I tell him I'm good."

What's the most embarrassing thing that's happened to you out on the diamond?

"One of the first games this summer, I was playing center field while we were trying to get a feel for our lineup. I'm usually at right field, a corner outfield guy, and center field is actually way different.

"This kid hit a line drive at me and my feet got tangled up and I just fell over. It ended up being a triple. So I had the jog of shame out to the center field wall to get the ball in and try to prevent an inside-the-park home run."

Who's somebody you watch and emulate from the MLB?

"Being from SoCal, I like the Padres and I really like Wil Myers right now. He's not a huge dude, but he has some pop. I really like that 'cause I've never been a big guy growing up. My dad would always tell me how the outfielders would be in way too far and then I'd hit a double over their head. So, I like little guys that have some pop."

What was your walk-up song in college?

"My walk-up song, when we had one, it's usually 'Public Service Announcement' by Jay Z. It's got a good beginning and it kind of gets me hyped for every at-bat."

Gum, seeds or chew?

"Definitely not gum. Probably seeds or chew, but I try to keep that on the down low because it's kind of a touchy subject in sports and baseball. I know the MLB is putting a lot of restrictions on it and you can get fined pretty bad for that even in pro level now."

Nate Lagos, right-handed pitcher
Chugiak Chinooks
North Greenville University

Lagos, of Wrentham, Massachusetts, is a sidearm pitcher.

What's something you've been working on improving this summer?

"I've really been working on my off-speed pitches, so my slider and my change-up. Up until this summer, I've gotten away with just throwing a sinking fastball and getting guys out, but (I'm) playing with the best guys in the country, right now, so gotta develop some other pitches. So I've been able to have some success the second half of the season with that."

Do you have any bad habits you need to break on the mound?

"I hit a lot of guys (with pitches). I don't know if it looks like I know what I'm doing out there, but I really don't. I just rear back and chuck the ball and see what happens.

"I think I've hit eight guys this year. Probably should cut that out before someone charges the mound on me."

Do you have any baseball superstitions?

"I eat a PB&J before every game, I like to listen to Justin Bieber pregame and (drink) fruit punch Rockstar energy drinks."

What is your walk-up song of choice?

"I walk out here to 'Beautiful Soul' by Jesse McCartney. Get a little 2004 boy band type stuff (laughs)."

What's it like as a pitcher facing wood bats in summer league?

"It's the best. We all hate going back to school and throwing against metal bats. I've had balls hit off me here that I thought were over the fence for sure, but then … it's a pop up and I get an out.

"Definitely a lot better throwing to wood bats, and breaking guys' bats is always fun."

Is there a major leaguer that you try to emulate out there?

"There's a guy, Brad Ziegler — I think he just got traded to the Red Sox — he's a sidearm, submarine pitcher just like me. There's not a lot of us out there, so the ones that are good at it, I definitely study and take notes from."

What are some of the activities you've done off the diamond this summer?

"We've been doing a lot of hiking — hiked up Baldy, did a couple other ones, me and a couple other guys hiked up Hatcher Pass the other day. It's gorgeous up there. Went up to Talkeetna, had dinner up there. Really just enjoying the gorgeous scenery around here for sure."

Gum, seeds or chew?

"I'm a seeds guy. We've got a Chinooks seed company that makes seeds for us. They've got this cinnamon toast flavor — out of this world. I've been chewing those all year and just spitting them into a cup so we don't mess up the turf."