From the “In case you didn’t think you could love Buck Showalter any more” department comes this gem, via Roch Kubatko of MASN.
On Monday, former Oriole player and manager Frank Robinson was at camp in Sarasota to speak to the guys.
One of those guys included 19-year-old 2013 second-round draft choice Josh Hart.
Buck decided to have a little fun with Hart and Robinson.
Showalter spotted 19-year-old outfielder Josh Hart walking down a hallway today and called him over to meet Frank Robinson.
Hart, the Orioles’ supplemental pick in last year’s draft, had just arrived at the complex to take part in the workout. Robinson, the Hall of Famer, was invited to speak with the players on the camp roster.
“He was coming down the hall and I was walking Frank out of the locker room,” Showalter asked. “I go, ‘Hold on a second, Frank. Josh, do you know who this is?'”
Showalter already knew the answer.
“He says, ‘No,’ and I said, ‘OK, by this time tomorrow I want a page on Frank Robinson,'” Showalter said. “I said, ‘You go home, you research it and you come back tomorrow and have it on my desk. Frank got a kick out of that.
“It’s not their fault, it’s not their fault.”
Is Hart going to do it?
“You bet your ass,” Showalter replied. “It better be there tomorrow. He knows.”
You have to think that, of all the things Hart was preparing to have to do during his first professional Spring Training, writing a report on a Hall of Famer probably wasn’t on the list.
No word yet on what grade Buck gave Hart’s paper, but I’m sure we’ll hear soon…
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