By Deborah Waddell
Who is Chris Cates? Not many people really know about thediminutive ball player, but others know that “Wee Man”is the University of Louisville freshman who’s making a hugeimpact on the Cardinal baseball team this spring and bringing newmeaning to the word “shortstop.”
Wee Man, as he is so affectionately called by teammates andfans, got an early start in baseball at the age of three when hisdad started instructing his older brother Gary and him.
“My dad got me and my brother playing when we were young,and kept us in the game. Having my brother play really kept me inthe game.”
Gary Cates’ older brother currently plays in the minorsfor the Baltimore Orioles organization.
“I always looked up to my brother and I always wanted tobe like him. He’s like an idol to me.”
Looking up to people is something Wee Man does a lot, in a veryliteral way. Standing at 5-4 tall, he averages about four inchesshorter than any other player on the field. Being short reallydoesn’t get to Wee Man though, and neither do the commentsabout his stature.
“I try not to let [the comments] bother me because Iwouldn’t be here if I wasn’t as good as the other guys.I use it all as motivation,” said Cates. “I hear thehecklers, but they just challenge me to do better. When I provethem wrong I feel better cause they look like the idiot, notme.”
To come into the game as a true freshman and make such an impactis rarely seen on the baseball diamond. Wee Man, though, expectedto play some.
“At my recruiting visit Coach (Lelo) Prado said I wouldplay a good amount as a freshman.”
Things change, however, and when senior J.T. LaFountain wentdown with a blown knee, Wee Man had to step up to the plate, so tospeak.
“When J.T. went down I had to step into the starting role.To start the first game and every game this year has beengreat.”
At shortstop and with a few stints at second base, Wee Man hasbatted .259 in 36 games. He also has 6 doubles and four stolenbases on four attempts. He also has some speed, which accounts forthe stolen bases as well as an inside-the-park home run againstMurray State.
Aside from being a great infielder, Wee also has a strongpitching arm. In high school he had an ERA under two, with a 10-5record in four years on the mound. But the chances of continuing topitch in college are slim to none.
“Most pitchers are 6-0 tall and I’m nowhere nearthat. I pitched in the inner squad game in the fall and I may getto pitch in one game, but only when it doesn’t count,”he added.
For inquiring minds everywhere wondering where the name Wee Mancomes from, here’s the answer: Greg Taylor. Taylor, one ofCates’ teammates, made the comment on the first day ofpractice that he looked like Wee Man from the show Jackass. Sincethat fateful day the name has stuck.
“I get called everything with Wee in it, like Weezit andWeezer, but the names don’t bother me.”
Which is a good thing, because no one knows him as anything butWee Man.
