Minor League pitchers Robbie Erlin and Kevin Eichorn stepped up to the mound this week to give a group of Scotts Valley youth some pointers.
Erlin — a Scotts Valley High graduate who pitched in 2010 for the Hickory Crawdads, a single-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers — and Eichorn, an Aptos High alumnus and rookie-league player who was traded in January to the Detroit Tigers, visited Scotts Valley on Tuesday, Feb. 1, to teach some Little Leaguers the tricks of the trade.
The two area standouts work out together with Joey Wolfe at Rocky’s Gym in Santa Cruz.
With almost a month before he returns to training camp, Erlin approached Eichorn about the opportunity to show some local youngsters the ropes.
“It is so good to be home,” Eichorn said, reflecting on the season he played in Missoula, Mont., before being traded to the Tigers affiliate in Florida. “I will have my work cut out for me in training camp.”
Eichorn will compete for a position against more than 50 other players for a spot on the Gulf Coast League division of the Detroit Tigers in Florida.
Erlin was one of the top pitchers for the Crawdads, with an impressive 2.14 earned-run average in 2010.
