Buhner Sees Career at Crossroads

When Shawn Buhner was reassigned to Lancaster this season, he knew it was a critical year in his career.

“If you’re platooning at 24, you begin to wonder if [the organization] has plans for you,” he said. “I was thinking, ‘If they give me a shot, I’ve got to take it. And if I [don’t hit well], I’ve got to start thinking about my future and my family.’ ”

Indeed, the shelf-life is short for 24-year-olds with a combined .240 average in three seasons at Class A. So it’s safe to say Buhner may save his career if he can continue to produce like he has in the season’s first three weeks. He is batting .322 with four home runs, 11 runs batted in and a .542 slugging percentage.

“It’s something I always knew I could do,” he said. “It was just a matter of time.”

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Tonight’s Game: San Jose (Brandon Leese, 1-1, 4.12) vs. JetHawks (Jeff Farnsworth, 0-0, 1.50), 7:15.

AROUND THE LEAGUES

David Lamb (Newbury Park High), who went two for four with a run and a run batted in on Thursday night, continues to play second base for Class-A Frederick, Md.

Syd Thrift, the Baltimore Orioles’ director of player development, said Lamb was moved from shortstop because of a franchise policy, not because the organization doesn’t feel Lamb could be a major league shortstop.

“We train them to play different positions so we can increase their value and enhance his opportunity to play in the major leagues,” Thrift said.

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Scanning Thursday box scores: Outfielder Ryan Radmanovich (Pepperdine) hit his fourth home run--and second in the past three games--for triple-A Salt Lake City. . . . Right-hander Mike McMullen (Kennedy) pitched two perfect innings, striking out three, in relief for Class-A San Jose. . . . Outfielder Will Skett (Reseda, Valley College) had two hits, including his first home run, for Class-A Dunedin, Fla. . . . Eric Gillespie (Cal State Northridge) got his first hit of the season for Class-A Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Gillespie, who played catcher on Thursday, is one for 23.