Zeile Gets Out of Box Quickly in Big-League Debut

Todd Zeile had been patient so far, but this time he couldn’t wait.

The team bus wasn’t leaving for another two hours, but Zeile wanted to arrive at Riverfront Stadium before any of his new St. Louis Cardinal teammates.

For Ozzie Smith, Pedro Guerrero and Vince Coleman, playing a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds might not be that thrilling. After all, they already had played 119 games this season and hundreds before that.

But for Zeile, Friday was the first day of his major league career.

Zeile, who was called up from the Cardinals’ triple-A team in Louisville on Wednesday, was two for four in the second game after grounding out to third as a pinch-hitter in the first game. Zeile’s first major league hit was a single to center in the fifth. He also had an infield single in the seventh.

“Half of me realizes I’m finally here and the other half thinks I’m dreaming,” Zeile said before the doubleheader. “This is a goal I’ve been trying to reach for a long time. I hope to make it last.”

Zeile, along with Sandy Alomar Jr. of the San Diego Padres, have been touted as the two best catching prospects in the minor leagues.

Before his promotion, Zeile had enjoyed success at every level of competition. He was a third-round selection in the June, 1986, free-agent draft after standout careers at Hart High and UCLA.

Playing for Springfield, Ill., at the Class-A level, Zeile was named co-most valuable player in the Midwest League. He led the league with 106 runs batted in and was second with 25 home runs. After suffering a broken bone in his right hand, Zeile batted .270, hit 19 home runs and drove in 75 runs with Arkansas, the Cardinals’ double-A affiliate.

During the off-season, Zeile married former Olympic gymnast Julianne McNamara of Encino. After making his first appearance at St. Louis’ spring training camp in St. Petersburg, Fla., he was ticketed to play a full season for the Cardinals’ triple-A team in Louisville.

“The Cardinals told me I would need to spend a full year in Louisville,” he said. “I didn’t think I was going to be called up this soon.”

In 118 games, he was second in the American Assn. with 85 RBIs and fourth among all triple-A players. He also ranked in the top 10 with 19 home runs and a .289 batting average.

Zeile, who will turn 24 next month, replaced first baseman-outfielder Jim Lindeman on the Cardinals’ roster. He was informed of his promotion during a team picnic.

“The manager called me to the side and said there has been a change of plans and I was going to join the Cardinals in Cincinnati,” Zeile said. “I first told Julianne at the picnic and then I called my parents in Valencia. I told my mom the news and for a half-second our hearts were beating and we didn’t know what to say.”

Zeile’s awe carried over to his arrival at the ballpark where he said he felt like a fan walking into the Cardinals’ locker room for the first time.

“Obviously, this is very exciting,” Zeile said before the game. “I stood at the door of the clubhouse for about five minutes and let everything soak in. I got my stuff situated. I looked at my name on the back of my jersey. Then I’ll get into my daily routine and try and relax a little bit.

“I’m nervous, but that will change when the umpire says ‘Play ball.’ ”

St. Louis thinks Zeile is ready to be the team’s full-time starting catcher beginning next season. Incumbent Tony Pena, who made the All-Star team for the fifth time this season, becomes a free agent next year and his $2 million-a-year price tag may be too expensive to keep him.

The Cardinals hoped to trade Pena this week, but he failed to clear waivers, negating a possible deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Zeile was told by Manager Whitey Herzog that he will share catching duties with Pena until the end of the season.

“There’s no way I’m going to come in and Pena’s not going to play any more,” Zeile said. “They’re not going to turn their back on him. He’s having a decent year and we’re still in the pennant race.

“I’m going to get 30 games under my belt and get some seasoning. I’ll worry about winning a starting job after next spring training. I just got here.”

Sooner than most expected.