Ex-Chatsworth Baseball Star to Make Major League Debut Friday

Mike Moustakas, the former Chatsworth High baseball star who is California’s all-time career home run leader, is finally making the big show.

The 22-year-old has been called up from the minors by the Kansas City Royals, and the third baseman is expected to make his home debut tonight against the Angels at Angel Stadium.

“He’s been hot,” manager Ned Yost told the Kansas City Star. “He’s been swinging the bat well and driving in runs, and playing good base. So the time is right.”

Moustakas, the second overall pick in the 2007 draft, was batting .287 with 10 homers and 44 RBIs at triple-A Omaha.

Yost said he will start at third baseman in Kansas City.

“Five days a week at least. That’s the minimum. I want him to get his feet wet. Get accustomed to big-league life and let him go,” Yost told the Star.

At Chatsworth, Moustakas, nicknamed “Mouse,” hit 52 career home runs–two as a freshman, 12 as a sophomore, 14 as a junior and a California-record 24 as a senior, to earn Baseball America National Player of the Year honors. As a senior, he batted .577 with 59 RBIs, walking 28 times compared to two strikeouts–perhaps the greatest season ever for a San Fernando Valley large-school player.

 Moustakas helped Chatsworth win four City championships in four years, including a national title in 2004.

CITY SLICKERS

Four Chatsworth baseball players have made the the All-City Section baseball team: outfielders Steven Karkenny and Raul Camas, pitcher Angel Rodriguez and utility player Aaron Brown.

Here is the list:

ALL-CITY BASEBALL

Player of the Year: William Vasquez, INF, San Fernando, Jr.

First-team: Pitchers: David Lira, San Fernando, Sr.; Jose Cardona, El Camino Real, Sr.; Angel Rodriguez, Chatsworth, Sr.; Eric Magdaleno, Banning, Jr.; Alberto Flores, Kennedy, Sr.; C_Chris Whitmer, El Camino Real, Sr.; Renae Martinez, San Pedro, Jr.; INF_William Vazquez, San Fernando, Jr.; Danny Alcantar, Kennedy, Sr.; Anthony Canjura, San Pedro, Sr.; Alex Sawelson, Taft, Sr.; Damon Akins, West Adams, Sr.; Utility: Robert Gsellman, Westchester, Sr.; Aaron Brown, Chatsworth, Sr.; Kevin Torres, Birmingham, Sr.; Steven Karkenny, Chatsworth, Sr.; Sam Wasserman, Palisades, So.; Danny Taylor, Narbonne, Sr.; Raul Camas, Chatsworth, So.; Chris Nicholson, El Camino Real, Jr.

Second-team: Pitchers: Keymon Thomas, Crenshaw, Jr.; Ryan Cruz, Kennedy, Sr.; Miguel Perez, Arleta, Sr.; Dylan Jeffers, Palisades, Sr.; C_Daniel Ibarra, Narbonne, Sr.; Jordan Berger, Taft, Sr.; Frankie Figueroa, Sylmar, Sr.; INF_Angel Araujo, Wilson, Jr.; Jonathan Linares, North Hollywood, Sr.; Christian Dye, LACES, Sr.; Stephen Smith, Dorsey, Sr.; Justin Marzett, Locke, Jr.; Kenny Peoples-Walls, Westchester, Sr.; Chris Naredo, Maywood, So.; David Garcia, San Fernando, Jr.; Andrew Pacleb, Kennedy, Jr.; UT_Jose Reyes, San Fernando, Sr.; Jonathan Hernandez, Banning, Sr.; OF_Randy Medellin, Birmingham, Jr.; Evan Santa Cruz, Crenshaw, Sr.

ON DECK

Karkenny, Rodriguez and Brown are slated to play in the fifith annual City vs. Southern Section All-Star Game at 6 p.m., Saturday, at Birmingham High in Van Nuys. There is a preceding home run contest at 4 p.m.

Brown was drafted Tuesday by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 17th round of the Major League draft. He has signed a letter-of-intent with Pepperdine, so he has a big decision to make about whether to turn pro immediately or play college ball. If he plays at Pepperdine, Brown will be eligible for the draft again in three years.

Camas is participating in the Southwest Future All-Star Series on Saturday and Sunday at the Urban Youth Academy in Compton.

In other Chatsworth baseball news, the Chancellors are using the name Valley North in the Valley Invitational Baseball League this summer, opening Monday with a 3-2 win over rival El Camino Real (using the name Woodland Hills).

As for the All-West Valley League baseball selections, Brown and Rodriguez were named co-MVPs, and the other first-team selections included Karkenny and infielders Brady Conlang and Ryan Escobar.

Here is the All-West Valley League first team:

P_A.J. Silberman, El Camino Real, Sr.; Pedro Santoyo, Birmingham, Sr.; C_Chris Whitmer, El Camino Real, Sr.; Jordan Berger, Taft, Sr.; Luke Jupp, Birmingham, Sr.; INF_Brady Conlan, Chatsworth, Sr.; Ryan Escobar, Chatsworth, Sr.; Javier Rodriguez, El Camino Real, Sr.; Alex Sawleson, Taft, Sr.; G. Allen, Cleveland, Sr.; Martin Orozco, Granada Hills, Sr.; OF_Steven Karkenny, Chatsworth, Sr.; Chris Nicholson, El Camino Real, Jr.; Max Spiegel, Cleveland, Sr.; UT_Jose Cardona, El Camino Real, Sr.; Zach Friedman, Taft, Sr.; Randy Medellin, Birmingham, Jr.

LAST GIG

T.J. Knox has left as head coach of Sierra Canyon High’s girls basketball team–replaced last month by Raquel Alotis–but the coach has a chance to represent the school a last time as one of the coaches at the third annual War of the Floor/Future Stars game, scheduled for Saturday at Moorpark High.