Charles Giving Back, Shifting Approach
May 5, 2014 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
CLEARWATER -- On a Monday afternoon in late April, Clearwater Threshers first baseman Art Charles is just returning from an early community service trip to the Paul B. Stephens Exceptional Student Education Center.
This of course, is not out of the ordinary for the 23-year old.
"It means a lot," Charles says of the opportunity he has to give back to the community.
"There are children that don't have the athletic capabilities that we have, and aren't as fortunate as some of the other people that play this game are, but they love the game," he says.
"They have dreams and aspirations to play, but they just weren't given this gift, so to speak. So to be able to give back to some of these guys and show them that 'Hey, we care,' or that 'Hey, you know, you can be where we're at if you keep working at it,' or just kind of showing them that dreams come true and that we're human beings as well...I feel like it's huge."
Charles himself was never short of athletic opportunity.
The Threshers' 6'6", 220-pound first baseman was raised in a family rich in athleticism. His father earned a scholarship to play basketball at Boise State, while his mother was a star volleyball player at Cal State Bakersfield.
"I always had some kind of ball in my hand and running around somewhere, whether it was on the court or on the field. I was always around sports."
Not surprisingly, Charles was a multi-sport athlete in high school, receiving Division I offers for basketball as well as baseball.
Although he was recruited by the likes of San Diego State, UC-San Diego, and Cal State-Monterey Bay for his prowess on the court, Charles knew his future was in baseball.
Attention from scouts early on ingrained in him the possibility of playing professional baseball, and it was a dream that stuck with him.
"I was pumped up about it, so I always had that in my mind, you know, of playing professional baseball and signing the contract and being in the MLB. It was always an idea and a dream that I had, so I kind of gravitated more towards that, and I felt myself being more successful in this game."
He chose to attend junior college in hopes of expediting his chances of joining the professional ranks. A two-way player in high school as well as for Bakersfield College, Charles received plenty of attention for his ability on the mound in addition to his power at the plate.
Ultimately, he was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 20th round of the 2010 draft, following his sophomore year at Bakersfield College.
He had previously been drafted twice, but both times had chosen not to sign. The first time, he was selected by the Baltimore Orioles, who picked Charles in the 33rd round of 2008 out of Ridgeview High School. After a year at Bakersfield College, Kansas City took Charles in the 39th round of 2009.
After signing with Toronto, Charles spent three years progressing through the Blue Jays organization before coming to the Philadelphia Phillies system in a trade for pitcher - and former Thresher - Michael Schwimer, on February 23, 2013.
"I was shocked," Charles said of his reaction to being traded.
"I was just flustered by it kind of, taken by surprise. We had just won the championship (in Vancouver) the year before, so I didn't know if it was something good for me, something bad, I didn't know how to take it, so to speak.
"It's a good opportunity being a part of this organization. The Blue Jays were a great organization as well but, you know, I love the Phillies organization. I feel like I've taken my game and my knowledge to another level as well."
Last year, Charles made his debut in the Phillies' farm system as the first baseman for the Lakewood Blue Claws, where he turned in one of his best professional seasons to date.
Charles played 123 games for Lakewood, and led the club in home runs (11) and RBI (72), while tying current teammates Willie Carmona for the team lead in doubles (34) and Brian Pointer for most walks (58).
Now with one month of experience in the Florida State League, Charles explains how the pitching becomes more challenging for hitters in higher levels.
"Pitchers throw more of their pitches for strikes, but you get a lot of movement," he says. "You're not going to get very many straight fastballs. They have sinkers, they have cutters, they throw a lot of sliders, curveballs. They throw their pitches in different counts.
"Fastball counts -1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1 - you don't always get those fastballs that you were getting in the lower levels. You get, you know, the changeups or the curveball or slider sometimes in those situations. So I feel like it was tough a little bit, but now I'm starting to kind of adapt."
Fans may take note of how teams tend toward a different defensive setup with the big left-hander at the plate. Oftentimes, opposing teams will shift their infield defense for Charles, who is known to pull the ball frequently.
Charles says that this has happened often throughout his professional career - not just in the Florida State League - but that he has been working with Phillies minor league hitting coordinator Andy Tracy and Threshers hitting coach Frank Cacciatore on "expanding the field."
"I'm better at going the opposite field with power now as well as pulling the ball, so it's just, you know, adjust to how I'm being pitched once again, how I'm being pitched to, and learn how to beat the shift a little bit.
Charles even dropped down a bunt for a base hit in a game against the Tampa Yankees on April 10.
"I dropped a bunt down one time just to show them like, hey, if you're gonna give me a base hit I'm gonna take."
But don't look for Charles to turn to small ball too frequently.
"I'm a big guy, I'm not a speed guy. I'm not gonna sit there and bunt every time. So really my approach is just to stay up the middle of the field and just kind of adjust to wherever the pitches are thrown."
He concedes, though, that there are situations that call for a change in approach, and Charles will do whatever it takes to give his team the opportunity to score.
"Situationally, something that calls for me to bunt or, you know, if they're gonna give me a hit then I'm gonna do it," he says. "I'm gonna get on base for my teammates."
Florida State League Stories from May 5, 2014
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- Martinez Drives in Three in Win - Clearwater Threshers
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- Tomshaw Leads Miracle to 3-2 Victory - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Ynoa, Sewald, Wheeler Pitch Mets to 5-2 Win over Crabs - St. Lucie Mets
- Williams Quiets Palm Beach Bats - Palm Beach Cardinals
- Charles Giving Back, Shifting Approach - Clearwater Threshers
- Michael Reed Named FSL Player of the Week - Brevard County Manatees
- Mets Down Stone Crabs 5-0 - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Friendly Kia Makes New Friends for Education Day - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Tigertown to Host Junior College State Baseball Championships May 9-14 - Lakeland Flying Tigers
- Pitching Falters in 11-5 Loss - Clearwater Threshers
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