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Tolbert, when he was here, was the player most guys leasted wanted to ride with because he'd get to the part early and hit a whole bucket of balls, and then he'd stay late after, and hit a second bucket of balls. If nothing else the kid doesn't mind hard work.

Wings' Tolbert having a hot time at the plate

IL batting leader is averaging a lofty .377

Jim Mandelaro
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

Matt Tolbert did the math this spring and mentally booked himself a flight to New Britain, Conn.

"I really thought I would start the year at Double-A," the switch-hitting infielder said. "I expected it."

Tolbert was thrilled to be wrong when he made the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings' roster for Opening Day. He began the season as a reserve, but when second baseman Alexi Casilla was promoted to the Minnesota Twins just one week later, Tolbert seized his opportunity.

He's still seizing. In just his third full season, the Mississippi native is an early surprise as the International League's batting leader. He was a .275 hitter entering this season, but he's batting .377 now with three home runs and 26 RBI in 48 games.

Even a two-week layoff because of a strained oblique abdominal muscle couldn't slow down this hitting machine. He has hit safely in 13 of his 14 games since returning, going 22-for-53 (.415). Included in that streak is a 5-for-5 game in Indianapolis.

"That's the first time I've ever done that," he says. "Not even in Little League."

Tolbert's hitting is so consistent, it's scary: .352 at home and .398 on the road, .388 against left-handed pitchers and .371 against righties, .455 in the day and .345 at night. He's even hitting .350 with runners in scoring position and two outs.

"He's earned it all," manager Stan Cliburn said. "He had a good spring, and he really came out hot out of the gate. He's been producing for us consistently."

Tolbert injured himself checking his swing on a 3-2 fastball in Richmond.

"I felt it," he said. "It was tough, but it had to heal on its own. I tried to keep a bat in my hands and keep a feel for it."

Tolbert hits to all fields and has above-average speed. He is a gritty, blue-collar player who does what it takes to succeed.

"I know I'm not going to hit a lot of homers," the 6-foot, 177-pounder said. "I have to scrap for everything I get."

Cliburn was batting Tolbert in the No. 9 hole before his injury, but he has hit No. 2 since his return.

Tolbert enjoyed four solid seasons at Ole Miss and was selected in the 16th round of the 2004 draft by the Twins. A natural second baseman, he began preparing for a utility role last season and has seen action with the Wings at second, shortstop and third.

Making the Triple-A roster was a major feat for Tolbert, considering that he was demoted from Double-A New Britain to Single-A Fort Myers just one month into the 2006 season.

He was hitting .216 when the Twins sent him to Florida. Tolbert responded by hitting .303 over a six-week stretch, then hitting in nine consecutive games when he rejoined New Britain on June 22. He finished the year batting .258 for the Rock Cats.

The Twins put him into the Arizona Fall League, and he hit .313 with 15 walks and six stolen bases in 24 games for Mesa.

"I was really anxious to get this year going," Tolbert said.

He didn't receive an invitation to big-league camp this spring, and the general thinking was that Casilla, a rising star, would start at second for Rochester and versatile Tommy Watkins would return at shortstop after a career year for the Red Wings.

Gil Velazquez was expected to return as a utility player, with Tolbert back at Double-A. But a strong spring by Tolbert opened enough eyes that he was given a spot on the Wings' 24-man roster, albeit on the bench.

He didn't stay there for long.

"He's someone to watch," farm director Jim Rantz said. "He has a lot of tools, and he works hard. He makes things happen."

Tolbert grew up in Woodville, Miss., a town of about 1,000 people 45 minutes north of Baton Rouge.

"Stick City," he calls it.

That's fitting, since Tolbert has been carrying a hot stick for the Red Wings all season.

He grew up idolizing Paul Molitor and Pete Rose "guys who played hard." His baseball education took place in the family's back yard, where his dad, Moose, would drill Matt and older brother Benjamin in throwing and hitting. Moose was also Matt's coach in Little League.

"He made me work at it," Tolbert says.

Tolbert has flown under the radar during his brief career, but at least one national publication saw something in him. Baseball America magazine labeled him the "most overlooked" player in the Twins' farm system before this season.

Many think Tolbert has come out of nowhere this season, and he's not one to disagree.

"It's kind of true," he says. "I'm one of those guys who has to fight through, play hard and hope good things happen. I'm not a big-name guy."

Not yet.

The Tolbert file

Age: 25.

Height/weight: 6-0, 177 pounds.

Bats: Switch-hitter.

Acquired: Selected by Minnesota Twins in 16th round of 2004 draft.

At Ole Miss: Hit .288 in four seasons at Mississippi.

June 19, 2007