The Piano Man
A big-league call-up would be sweet music to Chris Prieto's ears.

Marc DAVID
MinorLeagueNews.com

The "Piano Man" is alive and well in Sacramento. He's playing a new tune but the notes are the same as for every minor league ballplayer with aspirations.

Chris Prieto is one of the newer Rivercats, having signed with Oakland as a free agent last November. He makes good contact, runs the bases well and can occasionally hit the ball for power.

He also plays a mean piano, according to 'Cats announcer Johnny Doskow. Ask Prieto about his talent and he is almost embarrassed to talk about it.

"I play OK," he says. "It's a hobby. I took piano lessons when I was 5. I played at an early age, but I found 'Chopsticks' boring. I can't read music."

He can't read music but he can write it.

If Prieto is at home and has trouble sleeping, he's liable to get up, sit down at his Grand piano and play a tune he has written. At an Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, hotel he sat down at the piano until being chased away by a hotel employee.

"It helps me relax," Prieto, 30, said. "It's like medicine for me. I drive my wife (Kara) crazy. I'll ask her what she thinks of a tune I wrote and she'll roll her eyes."

At this point, Prieto isn't thinking about making a living as a piano player, although he admits that the thought intrigues him.

In his 11th professional season, Prieto has never had a major-league at-bat. As long as he enjoys baseball, he said he will continue to try and make it to the next level.

Prieto is not certain it will happen though. After so many years in the minor leagues, certain players acquire labels that are tough to shake. Sacramento Manager Tony DeFrancesco believes that Prieto can play in the major leagues.

"He knows how to play the game," DeFrancesco said. "Tool wise, he handles the bat pretty well, he runs well and is a good, solid defensive player. He knows how to get on base, which is our game. His ticket (to the major leagues) will be because he can handle the bat, he can be a defensive replacement, he's a threat to go from first to third, he can steal a base. He has a lot of plusses. He's confident and he has a lot of fun."

Having fun keeps Prieto in the game.

"I have no regrets in this game at all," said Prieto, a lifelong Californian who lives in Fontana. "For me growing up, I always wanted to be a major league baseball player. I've tried to adopt the philosophy (of the team) wherever I have been. Here, they want quality at-bats, working the pitcher, which is what I like to do."

The Piano Man is hoping the hits just keep on coming.