First-round draft pick Marek Houston feeling his way with the Cedar Rapids Kernels

CEDAR RAPIDS - He did not take batting practice, though that might have been less stressful than what Marek Houston had to do earlier this month at Target Field in Minneapolis.

The first-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in late July’s Major League Baseball Draft took a tour of the club’s stadium, met a bunch of people in the organization and did an interview with local media members.

Then just before the Twins and Kansas City Royals started their game, he threw out a ceremonial first pitch. Now that’s pressure.

His toss was a strike, by the way.

“It was kind of borderline,” Houston said with a grin. “I was just trying not to bounce it.”

He hasn’t bounced much in the very early going of his professional baseball career. The 21-year-old shortstop from Wake Forest University hit a ton (.370, to be specific) in a dozen games at low-Class A Fort Myers and has been bumped up to the high-A Cedar Rapids Kernels for the rest of the minor league season.

The Kernels played Thursday night against Beloit at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

“It’s just a different group of guys (here), a different team,” Houston said. “It’s not easy going to a new team, meeting them. All new faces, you’ve got to learn everybody’s name. It’s just kind of a different vibe, you know? But you get used to that ... It’s just a matter of time. Just getting to know some guys, getting comfortable around here, getting comfortable in a new ballpark and a new level.”

Houston has shown exceptional defensive chops in his seven games with C.R., which was the scouting report on him going into the draft. He was considered one of the, if not the, best shortstops in college baseball.

What bumped his draft stock was adding power to his offensive arsenal, as he tied for the team lead this past season at Wake Forest for home runs with 15. He has yet to hit one as a pro.

“The draft was an interesting experience. Very confusing, but ended up the way I’d hoped,” Houston said. “I guess I could say I went right where I wanted to and thought I could go, so it turned out to be a really great experience.

“You just don’t hear a lot going up to the day of it. It all happens right away. Everything shifts as soon as there is the first pick and the second pick. Everybody’s kind of scrambling. But that’s kind of why it’s cool and fun to watch.”

Houston was the 16th-overall pick and signed a contract with the Twins that included a signing bonus of $4.5 million.

“Pretty solid with the glove,” said Kernels Manager Brian Meyer. “In just talking to him, he said the pitching in low-A was better than he thought it’d be. Now it’s adjusting to the pitching here because the pitching here is better than low-A. He even mentioned it the end of last week that guys are more consistent here.

“They’re trying to set you up as a hitter. They’re not just throwing to throw. So it’s an adjustment, it’s a learning period for him. Even though you come from the ACC, a top-five, top-10 program, there’s still an adjustment period. These guys are good here.”

Houston went into Thursday 4-for-27 at the plate for the Kernels with a double, an RBI and a stolen base. As he and his manager mentioned, he is feeling his way through everythings right now.

That includes a better minor league level.

“It felt good to succeed already,” he said of his time in Fort Myers. “I mean, it was just a few games, like a 12-game stretch. But hitting good throughout that stretch definitely felt good. Getting here, kind of have gotten off to a slow start, but at-bats are feeling good. Just trying to give my best for my team.

“They’re kind of coming at you with more of a plan here, unlike low-A, where they’re kind of throwing guys out there, and it’s random almost. You’re getting different kinds of pitches that you wouldn’t expect. Here it’s more of a plan, they come up with a plan on how to attack you. That’s kind of what I’ve noticed so far. There are some guys that are a lot better than others, so it’s just getting used to that.”

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