header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 28
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir


| Thursday, Apr 12, 2018
Mustangs Baseball Alum Menez and Van Horn TMU alums Conner Menez, left, and Brandon Van Horn spent time together with the San Jose Giants early this season before Menez was promoted to Triple-A. Photo by Mason Nesbitt

By: Mason Nesbitt, Sports Information Director

The storyline was gift-wrapped like a two-hopper to short. The headline wrote itself: The Master’s University baseball alums Conner Menez and Brandon Van Horn make the most of time on same Minor League Baseball team.

Yeah, that lasted all of six games.

The San Francisco Giants promoted Menez to Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday with the lefty scheduled to pitch in the capital on Thursday.

Menez left his High-A San Jose Giant teammates, including a reportedly ecstatic Van Horn, in Lancaster shortly after receiving the news and flew from LAX to Sacramento. But not before Van Horn and Menez visited with a guest Monday about the benefit of playing together, adjusting to life on the road and whether Master’s prepared them for the pros.

“That has to be a God thing,” Menez said of opening 2018 on the same roster as Van Horn, who he played with at TMU in 2016, when the Mustangs made the first of two straight NAIA World Series appearances.

The Giants drafted Menez in the 14th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft later that summer and snagged Van Horn, a slick-fielding shortstop, five rounds later.

After spending a season-plus with different teams, the duo’s paths crossed this spring in San Jose, where both were set to start the year in High-A ball.

Menez says his teammates asked about TMU.

“I’m like, ‘It’s a small NAIA school,'” Menez said. “And they’re like, ‘What? You and Brandon are from there?’ It’s a cool way, honestly, to open up to players and share (about Christ) that way.”

Said Van Horn, “You can’t really describe it other than it’s a blessing and it’s really fun. We’re both really familiar with each other. We’ve been doing this for a while. We have better communication than most pitchers and infielders would have.

“Hopefully, we can do it all the way up to the big leagues.”

Menez took a giant, and maybe earlier-than-unexpected, step in that direction Wednesday when he left for Sacramento, where he joined the River Cats for their series finale against the Reno Aces on Thursday.

He will start opposite Reno’s Kris Medlen, who has already seen measured big league success.

“Very surprised,” Menez said of his reaction via text message. “Especially this early in the season.”

Menez made his first start of 2018 on Saturday in San Bernardino. With a handful of former TMU teammates in attendance, he shut out the Inland Empire 66ers for five innings, striking out seven and walking none.

He allowed three hits.

Monday, wearing flip-flops and compression leggings, he climbed atop the bench in the visitor’s dugout at The Hanger before a game against the Lancaster JetHawks, a morning of weights and long toss behind him.

“Definitely coming back for my second year in San Jose I have a little more confidence,” said Menez, who went 7-7 with a 4.41 ERA in 22 starts at High-A last season, “and I feel like my pitches are a little sharper now.”

Menez said he has focused on “tunneling” his pitches, making sure his fastball, change-up and slider start on the same plane out of his hand before going their separate ways .

For Van Horn, the night had just begun. He would later bang a single through the left side – one night after hitting his first home run of the season – and make an over-the-shoulder running catch in shallow left field.

Van Horn’s glove has never come into question. Baseball America recently named him the Giants’ top defensive infielder in the minor leagues. However, his batting is still a work in progress.

Over the offseason, he overhauled his swing with an eye toward producing more power.

“I feel like I was able to work with some guys who are a part of the game changing into launch angles and getting the ball into the air and being a little bit looser,” Van Horn said. “… This offseason I was able to understand my body better, understand the strike zone better. That was one of the things I struggled with was swinging at pitches out of the strike zone.”

Van Horn, a career .251 hitter in the minors, was six for his first 26 as of Tuesday. But Menez said he’s seen a difference.

“His bat speed has gotten way quicker since Master’s,” Menez said. “He has some pop now.”

Adjusting to life off the field has been a bigger challenge, Van Horn said.

“With sleep, food, the schedule and travel,” he said, “you can’t really get prepared for that unless you actually do it.”

What had Van Horn eaten by 5 p.m. Monday?

“We went to a place called Crazy Otto’s, which is the most mom-and-pop diner with some greasy eggs and some buttered bacon,” he said. “… Then I had a PB and J, and I’ll probably have PB and J and applesauce before the game. ”

Menez said he does his best to eat well on the road, even if that means taking an occasional Uber from the team’s hotel.

Back in San Jose, the task is easier, as the players live with host families. Menez stays with a “sweet old lady.”

“She’s super nice to us,” Menez said. “She buys us food.”

As for whether Master’s prepared him for the pros, Menez pointed to the work ethic instilled by coach Monte Brooks. He said he learned a lot about pitching at TMU, too.

Menez arrived at Master’s throwing in the low 80s. Over the next three years, he trained in the weight room and on the field, developing command and depth on his change-up and slider and velocity on his fastball.

As a junior, Menez hit 90 to 92 mph on the radar gun and finished 11-3 with a 2.47 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 102 innings.

Van Horn also benefited from his time at Master’s. He said he gained confidence in who he was.

“I can have that unashamed faith,” Van Horn said. “Before, you’re kind of iffy in your different crowds and all that and maybe the clubhouse. But I’m very free to be who I am and share my faith.”

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


WATCH NOW
LOCAL SPORTS HEADLINES
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2024
College of the Canyons women's tennis played to a convincing 7-2 conference win over Ventura College on Moica to strengthen its potential playoff resume.
Monday, Mar 25, 2024
The Master's University men's volleyball team took to the road and came away with a 3-set victory, 25-19, 25-16, 25-22, over the Hope International Royals in Fullerton.
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Battling back from a 12-point deficit, The Master's University basketball team had the lead late but could not hold it, losing to the No. 1 seed Freed-Hardeman 68-69 in the Round of 16 at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Men's Basketball National Championship.
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
GOLETA — College of the Canyons fielded two teams at the annual 3C2A State Preview event at Sandpiper Golf Course on Monday, with the Cougars finishing sixth and eighth in the field of 18 teams from around the state. 
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
Cason Brownell had a bases-loaded double in the first and added a home run in the sixth to knock in all four runs The Master's needed in a 4-3 win over Westcliff Tuesday in Irvine.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
Due to the projected rain forecast, Eggstravaganza will now be held indoors at the Canyon Country Community Center beginning promptly at 10 a.m. on March 30.
March 30: Eggstravaganza Now Being Held Indoors at Canyon Country Community Center
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
The College of the Canyons Athletic Department will host a dedication ceremony to unveil the Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room in honor of the longtime board member and ardent softball program supporter’s nearly 40 years of service to the district.
April 16: COC to Host Michele Jenkins Team Room Dedication Ceremony
PFLAG Santa Clarita has announced the establishment of the Peggy and Jeff Stabile PFLAG SCV Scholarship. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to LGBTQIA+ students pursuing higher education and committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and promoting diversity and inclusion.
PFLAG SCV Announces Stabile PFLAG Scholarship
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDEC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
The first Music Jam Session at The MAIN was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 and was a hit. Come out and join in for the next one on Thursday, March 28 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
March 28: The MAIN to Host Musicians’ Jam Session
Los Angeles County Inspector General Max Huntsman of the Office of Inspector General has issued a report entitled "Tenth Report Back on Implementing Body-Worn Cameras in Los Angeles County."
Office of Inspector General Issues Latest Report on LASD Body Cams
College of the Canyons women's tennis played to a convincing 7-2 conference win over Ventura College on Moica to strengthen its potential playoff resume.
Canyons Closes Out Ventura 7-2 in Final Home Match
Join the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce with the Latino Business Alliance at the Cinco de Mayo Networking Celebration on Tuesday, May 7.
May 7: Latino Business Alliance Cinco de Mayo Celebration
The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control is hosting March Meowness promotion where all cat adoptions are just $15 from now until April 9.
Adopt a Cat During March Meowness at Castaic Animal Center
California State University, Northridge is partnering with the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians and the Tataviam Land Conservancy to battle the impact of climate change in disadvantaged communities throughout the San Fernando Valley by establishing “urban forests.”
CSUN Partners with Fernandeño Tataviam Band to Build Urban Forests
SCVNews.com