Lovingier, Liefer Benefit from Winter Work

Jeff Liefer and Kevin Lovingier don’t know each other. But they have a few things in common, starting with success in the minor leagues this season.

Liefer, an outfielder, is batting .312 with 16 home runs and 61 runs batted in for the Birmingham Barons, the double-A team of the Chicago White Sox.

Lovingier, a right-handed middle reliever, was 3-0 in 36 games with the Cardinals’ double-A team in Arkansas. He was promoted to triple-A Memphis team in June and is 2-0 in 19 appearances.

Both credit winter baseball with putting their careers on track. Liefer played in the Dominican Republic; Lovingier played in Puerto Rico.

And both could also be approaching crucial junctures in their careers.

Liefer, 23, in his third pro season, was considered “the second coming of Robin Ventura” by White Sox scouts when they signed him. But an injury to his right shoulder slowed his progress. With Chicago officials considering more personnel changes for their foundering team, Liefer needed a breakout season to raise interest in his abilities.

“I think I’ve shown them I’m the player they thought I could be when I was drafted,” Liefer said.

Lovingier, 26, is in his fifth pro season. Considering how strapped the Cardinals are for pitching, as they struggle to compete in the NL Central, he should be getting consideration for the major league staff or be part of a trade package.

“Can I make the last jump? Good question,” Lovingier said. “My season makes me think there’s a possibility I can go [to the majors], but there are politics involved and I don’t have anything to do with that.”

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Liefer, who grew up in Upland and now lives in Newport Beach, has always been a good hitter.

A three-year starter at Long Beach State, he set school career records in home runs (30), RBIs (160), hits (230) and doubles (52). In 1995 he led the 49ers with a .354 averaged and earned second team All-America honors. He also named to the NCAA West Regional all-tournament team in Fresno after batting .435. In 1993 he helped Long Beach reach the College World Series and batted .500 in the tournament.

The White Sox drafted Liefer--then an infielder--in the first round, and he split his first season between single-A teams South Bend and Prince William. He combined for a .290 average with 16 homers and 71 RBIs for the teams and was considered a top prospect.

Liefer was promoted to Birmingham last year, but despite hitting 15 homers and driving 71 runs, he averaged only .238. He was hampered by a surgically repaired right rotator cuff that affected his swing. His defense at third base wasn’t strong either (eight errors), prompting the move to the outfield.

Playing winter ball revived his hitting, Liefer said. He strengthened his shoulder and changed his attitude.

“I’ve been much more consistent this year,” he said. “And I no longer get down on myself over a bad game. Before I would sulk for a long time. But up here you play so many games you’re bound to have a few bad ones.”

Liefer was invited to the White Sox’s 1998 spring training camp as a non-roster player but only got 10 at-bats (and three hits). This was to be a season to prove himself. So far he is doing that.

He’s trying not to sit around, waiting for the phone to ring. He believes the White Sox will give him an fair chance to move up. “They’ve seen me play, so it’s not like I’d be going in cold turkey,” Liefer said. “I know I have to go out and battle every day. I’d rather be in triple-A right now, but I know that’s not up to me.”

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Lovingier, who graduated from Laguna Hills High and pitched for Oklahoma in the 1994 College World Series, has had limited opportunities to show what he can do.

Before this season, his career record was 14-9. He has had only one losing record--2-3 in 1996 at Arkansas. But in 214 games, Lovingier had pitched only 259 innings. “I have never pitched more than two innings in a game as a pro,” Lovingier said.

That makes it difficult, if not impossible, to stand out unless you’re being groomed as a closer. Lovingier has only six saves in his career.

Lovingier said he didn’t know about his promotion to Memphis until his wife told him. “She told me when I came back from a 14-hour trip from Arkansas to Midland, Texas, and back to Arkansas. She’d heard about it that morning, but she didn’t tell me until the team got back. She wanted to surprise me.”

It’s easy to understand the frustration that sometimes creeps into Lovingier’s voice as he evaluates his chances of reaching the big leagues. His stint in Puerto Rico convinced Lovingier he could get major league hitters out.

“I got to pitch in many games there, and I was able to find a groove that I’ve tried to maintain this season,” Lovingier said. “I’ve definitely been more consistent in the strike zone.

“I’m not on the 40-man roster so don’t think I would get called up even if I keep doing well. But all I can worry about is pitching, and hope my turn comes soon.”

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Playing for the High Desert Mavericks is as close to home as Kevin Clark has been in years.

Clark, the first baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ single-A team in Adelanto, was drafted in 1993 by the Boston Red Sox after attending Cypress College.

After bouncing around the organization’s minor league system for four years, he was released by the single-A Sarasota, Fla., team at the end of the 1996 season.

Clark, 6 feet, 195 pounds, returned to Southern California and made some phone calls, letting teams know he was available to play first base or catch.

He started the 1997 season with Rio Grande Valley in Texas, an independent team, and finished it with High Desert. Clark, 25, returns this season for the defending California League champions, and is hitting .288 with 12 home runs and 56 RBIs.

“Florida was so hot and humid,” Clark said. “It’s nice to be here. My goal is to have a good season, put up some good numbers and win another ring. It’d be nice to win another one.”

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Times staff writer Linda Whitmore also contributed to this report.