Wednesday, December 16, 1998

BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Shortstop Pat Listach, the 1992 American League Rookie of the Year, heads a list of eight players who signed minor-league contracts Tuesday with the Reds.

Cincinnati also signed catcher Jayhawk Owens, a Cincinnati native; first baseman D.T. Cromer, infielder Jason Hardtke, utilityman Phil Hiatt, outfielder Damon Hollins, first baseman Rod McCall and outfielder Darrell Whitmore.

Each of these players must perform remarkably well in spring training just to have a chance to make the Opening Day roster. They are proven performers at the Triple-A level who struggle in the majors.

Listach, 31, hit .290, scored 93 runs and stole 54 bases in his big '92. But injuries have derailed him since. He hit a combined .219 with Cleveland's and Philadelphia's Triple-A affiliates last season.

Owens, formerly with the Colorado Rockies, hit .297 in 16 games with Triple-A Indianapolis and .205 in 52 games with Triple-A Salt Lake City (Minnesota) this year.

Cromer batted .294 with 16 homers and 85 RBI for Oakland's Triple-A Edmonton affiliate.

Hardtke hit .288 with Triple-A Iowa and .238 (5-for-21) in 18 appearances with the Chicago Cubs.

Hiatt, who has played with Kansas City, hit .247 with 31 homers and 74 RBI for Buffalo, Cleveland's Triple-A team.

Hollins played for Triple-A Richmond (.264, 13 homers, 48 RBI), Atlanta (.167, 1-for-6) and Los Angeles (.222, 2-for-9).

McCall hit .252 with 30 homers and 70 RBI with Triple-A Iowa in his ninth minor-league season.

Whitmore, an ex-Florida Marlin, batted .309 with 21 homers and 50 RBI for Triple-A Nashville (Pittsburgh).

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