Wyatt Spinks is coming off a breakout season at Chestnut Hill College, where he hit .393 with a 1.173 OPS, stole 24 bases and earned First Team All-CACC honors. This summer, the rising senior is expected to be a catalyst for a Tropics club looking to make an immediate impact in its first PSCBL season.
Spratt knows Spinks' game well.
The Tropics manager is a 2021 graduate of Chestnut Hill, where Spinks played for Spratt's father, Robert, who has led the Griffins program since its inaugural season in 2008.
"He just plays really hard," Spratt said. "He runs the bases hard. He puts the ball in play. I like the way he plays. He's aggressive."
That aggressiveness was evident from the opening inning of the Tropics' 3-0 victory over the Philly Mummers in a game shortened by darkness on Tuesday night.
Spinks led off the contest by beating out an infield single. He advanced to second on a wild pitch before attempting to steal third base. Although he was thrown out, the sequence offered a glimpse into the style of play that has helped make him one of the area's more productive college players.
The former Harry S. Truman standout finished 1-for-3 with an RBI as the Tropics improved to 2-0 on the young season.
"Speed's always been a part of my game," Spinks said. "I like to be aggressive and try to get as many bases as possible."
Spinks' development at Chestnut Hill has gone beyond speed. After arriving as a middle infielder, he transitioned to center field and added more power to his game this spring, posting career highs with 13 doubles, three triples and six home runs.
"I've been working on the power in the weight room and translating it into my swing," Spinks said. "The success overall was because of my teammates pushing me, never giving up and working as hard as possible in practice."
While the season is only two games old, Spratt likes what he has seen from his club.
The Doylestown-based roster features players from programs such as Chestnut Hill, Widener, Gettysburg and Lycoming, with additional players expected to join the team as they return home for the summer.
One of those additions could be infielder Ernie Sanchez, a Central Bucks West graduate who drew Division I interest from Lafayette, Saint Joseph's and Lehigh before choosing Bentley University, a Division II power that recently reached the Division II College World Series.
Spinks also brings valuable experience in the league. Last summer, he played for the Philly Bandits, helping the club reach the PSCBL championship series.
"This league is really fun to play in," Spinks said. "It's a little more laid back, but you can still work on your swing while facing really good pitching."
For Spratt, the early returns have been encouraging.
"We had a college team in our program the last three years and played in the Penn-Del League," Spratt said. "I've never been in this league before, so I have to see the other teams. But I know we have a pretty good roster and a good group of kids. A lot of them I've known from high school baseball. We'll definitely compete."
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