By Scott Vosper, Palm Springs Semaphore
September 22, 2019

In the midst of a Sovereign League wild-card playoff race as hot as the dog days of Indian summer, the Palm Spring Codgers have turned to their super-prospect, shortstop Royce ‘Jester’ Raines, for an additional boost.

Raines, the Codgers’ first-round draft pick (and first selection overall) just last year, advanced rapidly through the club’s minor-league system, and with the advent of expanded PEBA rosters this September, found himself officially wearing the salmon and green for the first time, called up to the major league in Palm Springs.

The young ballplayer found it to be an awe-inspiring experience.

“Walking out onto the grass of Elderberry Field for batting practice that day, thinking about all the history buried under those foundations….it was a pretty overwhelming feeling.  When the gold statue (the rotating golden statue of team owner Hopkins Bunner IV atop the stadium) said ‘get over here and tickle my feet!’ I felt like it was talking directly to me.”

While no tickling occurred, Raines–younger brother of Arlington superstar Rob Raines–wasted no time in making himself useful in other ways, drawing a walk and batting in a run in his very first game, a 5-4 victory over Fargo on September 16.

“I’m not here trying to be the savior or whatever,” the 23-year old said.  “I just want to help the team out any way I can.”