On The Farm
Adam Boeve
By Joe Giardina

With Pirates prospects Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker being promoted to triple A Indianapolis this past month, they likely will garner most of the attention from the media and the fans. That is just fine for the Pirates' double A outfielder Adam Boeve.

"I can't worry too much about the other players in the system or what everyone else is doing," Boeve said. "Those are good players but you can only control what you do in the field."

The 27-year-old Boeve (rhymes with groovy) has had three stints with the triple A Indianapolis Indians, including two separate ones this season. He spent most of last season with the club, batting .272 with an on base percentage of .341 - both career lows. Those were numbers he knew he had to work on.

"I've worked my butt off in the off-season with my hitting, and throughout the year putting in early work and extra work," Boeve said. "I always stay on top of my swing and my hitting."

And despite being sent back down to double A for the second time this season, his hard work paid off. Starting this season off in Altoona, Boeve batted .295 with 14 homeruns and 14 stolen bases in 77 games. He was promoted to triple A in early July but his stay was a short one as he was sent back down after only a week. When he returned to double A he continued to play well and again was promoted back to Indianapolis. However, when McCutchen and Walker were promoted in mid-August, roster room was needed and Boeve was the odd man out.

But Boeve knows this is the way the game works, and this is why he works harder every off-season than he has in the past. His experiences in triple A have given him an understanding of what it takes to succeed at that level. So when he gets called up again, he will be ready to make it his last stop before the big leagues.

"The players are just a little bit better [in triple A]," he said. "The pitchers are a little bit sharper and they are a little bit better at locating their pitches. They are a little more advanced in their game plan and the execution of their pitches."

For Boeve, baseball wasn't even his sport of choice going into his freshman year of college. The 6'2", 216 pound native of Rock Valley, IA attended the University of Northern Iowa on a football scholarship, but after starring on the diamond he wisely decided to focus on baseball. In 2003 he was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year as he led the conference in homeruns (18), RBI (70) and was second in batting average (.368). He was then drafted by the Pirates in the 12th round of the June 2003 First-Year Player Draft.

Now in his fifth year of professional ball, Boeve believes he is ready to become a major leaguer.

"I don't think there is one thing in my game that is really lacking too much," he said. "I feel pretty confidant in most of my baseball abilities, defensively and offensively. Just going out to the park everyday and working on all aspects will help you get ready for the big leagues."