The Staten Island Yankees arrived in Batavia this morning and climbing off the bus for a workout at the YMCA was the Yankees #1 draft pick in 2010, Cito Culver.
He's a Rochester native and this will be his first game played close to home.
Between the Yankee's connection and Culver's WNY roots, big crowds are expected at Dwyer over the next three days. Game times are 7:05 tonight, 11:05 a.m. tomorrow and 7:05 p.m. on Friday (with fireworks afterward).
Culver, who some predict is the future starting shortstop, replacing Derek Jeter for the Yankees, comes to town swinging a hot bat. He's hitting .350 over the past 10 games, including two three-hit games last week.
As for the young player, he's ignoring the Rochester-area media hoopla around his sort-of-homecoming and concentrating on getting ready to play his game.
"I try to stay away from looking at all that," Culver said. "I'm just happy that my mom and my sisters and my close friends can come watch me play. It's been a long time since my grandma and my grandpa came to see me play, so I'm really excited for that."
Meanwhile, the Muckdogs (20-18) are wrapped up in a tight pennant race, tied for second with Williamsport, one game behind three times tied for first (Jamestown, Auburn and Mohoning Valley, all at 21-17).
Staten Island comes into the series with a 28-9 record, seven games ahead of Brooklyn (21-16) in the McNamara division.
