Joey Wong Continues His Career Close To Home

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Story Published: Jul 15, 2009 at 10:46 PM PST

By Keith Leventhal

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Through the first 3 weeks of the season, the Tri-City Dust Devils have been very impressive.

One of their star players is shortstop Joey Wong.

He's had a very successful career so far...but he's never strayed too far from home.

Joey Wong's professional career is off to a good start with the Tri-City Dust Devils.

Wong says, "Its been a blast, I couldn't ask for more to start off a career than to come out here and play with a bunch of guys that are not only really good, but they're just great guys, good personalities, good people to hang out with."

While Wong is a new name to a lot of people in the Tri-Cities, he's no stranger to the Northwest.
He went to high school in Salem and, in the 2004-2005 school year, he led both his football and baseball teams to state title

Then, when it was time to pick a college, he didn't go too far from home.

As a Beaver, Wong was part of the 2007 team that won the College World Series championship.

Wong says, "Its something that I'll definitely always remember and its probably the best time that I ever had playing baseball."

Wong was taken by the Colorado Rockies in the 24th round of this year's draft…and getting to start his career in the Tri-Cities has been a dream come true…

Wong says, "Its been great just to have my family and friends be able to come watch me play, you know, its just been a real blessing to be able to be in the Northwest still and be close to home and be able to drive my truck up here and have it for the summer, so its been pretty nice."

Of course, Wong would love to leave the Northwest if it meant moving up in his professional career.

And it looks like he's on the right track.

Dust Devils manager Freddie Ocasio says, "People don't look at the defensive part of the game and, you know, that's what wins championships, you know, pitching and defense wins championships, and having a guy like Joey Wong at shortstop pretty much stabilizes the infield."

Wong adds, "I've never been a real power hitter so I just try to get hits when we need them and play good defense and that's pretty much what's gotten me here so I'll just try to keep going with that."

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