Farmstros Pre-Season Player of the Year Austin Wates got a taste of winning in the minor leagues near the end of the 2011 season, and it made a good impression on him. While Lancaster finished the season with the worst record in the California League, the JetHawks went on a roll and won 12 of their last 18 games. That stretch was one of the highlights of Wates' first full pro season. "We were on a roll, and we were having a blast in the clubhouse. What's more fun than winning and having a blast doing it?!"
Wates was the JetHawks' most consistent hitter over the course of the season, batting .300 with 23 doubles, 75 RBI and 26 stolen bases. However, he hit a rough patch when the team as a whole was on its best stretch of the season. "I wasn't playing particularly well at the time, but personal achievements only go so far, and winning brings along its own set of rewards."
After the grind of his first professional season, Wates let himself rest a little bit longer this off-season. He took five weeks off before going back to the weight room to prepare for 2012. About the adjustment Wates said, "I trust my body of work, and I have learned to understand where my body is at."
Wates indicated that he heads into every season with similar goals, and 2012 is no exception. I aim to "control what I can control, play to the best of my ability, and outplay my opponents. I figure if I can do those things more consistently I will be right where I want to be."
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