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Karaviotis moves up

Promotion to Advanced Class A Visalia allows Maui High graduate to be with family

Mark Karaviotis was mainly a first baseman for Kane County, where he hit .307 in 57 games with 13 doubles, two homers and 21 RBIs. • Kane County Cougars / Justin Edwards photo

Life is moving at rapid pace for Mark Karaviotis.

The Arizona Diamondbacks minor leaguer, a 2013 Maui High School graduate, received his third promotion on Tuesday — in just over a year as a professional — moving from long-season Class A Kane County (Ill.) to Advanced Class A Visalia (Calif).

He received the news late Tuesday night from Kane County manager Butch Hobson, after a seven-hour bus ride.

“We actually just got to Lake County (Ohio), Butch called me up to the front of the bus and he said, short and sweet: ‘Congrats, you’re heading out early tomorrow morning, so we wish you the best, blah, blah, blah,’ “ Karaviotis said via phone Tuesday night. “And, ‘keep in touch.’ “

Five hours later, he departed from Cleveland for a flight to Dallas and then to Fresno.

Mark Karaviotis was promoted from long-season Class A Kane County (Ill.) to Advanced Class A Visalia (Calif.) on Tuesday. • Kane County Cougars / Justin Edwards photo

Being in the California League is a major move for Karaviotis, who spent three years at the University of Oregon before being selected in the 19th round of the MLB draft 13 months ago.

“I just try to control what I can control, go out there every day with a game plan and worry about yourself and doing whatever you can to put your team in the best possible position to win,” Karaviotis said. “If that means moving up the ranks so be it, but I’m just blessed to be in this situation and excited to be on Visalia and looking forward to what the future has in store.”

His wife Anna and daughter Teagan live in Fresno, Calif., about a 40-minute drive from Visalia. The Karaviotises met two summers ago when Mark played in the Cape Cod Baseball League after his sophomore season at Oregon. Anna is in her final semester before getting her bachelor’s degree at Fresno State.

“I will definitely be living at home and commuting back and forth every day, so it’ll be nice coming home every night and seeing my wife and daughter,” Mark Karaviotis said. “It’ll definitely be a blessing.”

Karaviotis was mainly a first baseman for Kane County, where he hit .307 in 57 games with 13 doubles, a triple, two homers and 21 RBIs.

“He’s got a pretty good idea at the plate of what he wants to do and he sticks to his game plan,” Hobson, the former Boston Red Sox player and manager, said about Karaviotis in a June story by the Elgin Courier-News. “He’s smart for a young guy. He’s got a good eye at the plate and will take his walks.

“He’s looking for his pitch, and he’s getting it and he’s not missing it. He’s been a big bat in our lineup, a big lift.”

Karaviotis was a shortstop throughout high school and college, but a shoulder injury suffered his junior year at Oregon forced him to learn the first-base position. However, in an unlikely coincidence, his promotion Tuesday came just hours after three shortstop prospects were traded from the Diamondbacks to Detroit in the J.D. Martinez deal.

“I have no idea yet, I’m going with all of my gloves and wherever they need me, there you go,” Karaviotis said of what position he will play in Visalia.

Sergio Alcantara, Jose King and Dawel Lugo were the prospects traded for Martinez.

Karaviotis played with Alcantara in Hilsboro, Ore., last season — Alcantara was on the Visalia roster, playing shortstop when the trade happened. Lugo was playing at the rookie level, while Lugo was at the AA level.

“That was kind of a big trade, kind of thrilled to see how that works, see teammates and friends that you know — changes can happen that quick,” Karaviotis said.

Earlier this season, Karaviotis played against Kolten Wong, the St. Louis Carindinals second baseman, when the former University of Hawaii standout from Hilo was on an injury rehabilitation assignment in Peoria.

“Three or four weeks ago, I got to play against him in a four-game series,” Karaviotis said. “Getting to talk to him, being on the same field as a big leaguer who you look up to, it was definitely fun.

“He said: ‘It’s a long season, you have go to keep grinding it out,’ and just keep doing what I’m doing.”

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com

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