http://www.oaoa.com/sports/sp063006a.htm

By Craig Craker
Odessa American

Permian High School graduate Logan Parker is showing he belongs in professional baseball.
Parker has played nine games for the Billings (Mont.) Mustangs, the Cincinnati Reds rookie ball affiliate.
Parker is hitting .400 (12-for-30) with a double, home run and five RBI in nine games. He also has scored eight runs, walked eight times with four strikeouts and committed an error.
He spent five days in Florida at a rookie mini-camp after being drafted in the 12th round by the Reds in the MLB draft earlier this month.
“It was fun,” Parker said of Florida. “Just a learning process and walking you through what they want you to do.”
Parker has noticed more differences between college ball and the minors than just getting paid to play.
“I am enjoying no class, definitely,” he said. “Playing every day is hard — just what you have to do to prepare yourself every day really.”
Parker said each day he wakes up and goes to the gym to work out. Then the team goes back to the hotel and has to be at the field by 3 p.m.
The rookie seems confident that he will keep his job as starting first baseman and if he is promoted would go to the team’s Single-A team in Dayton, Ohio.
For now, though, Parker is enjoying his stay in Montana despite the geographical and weather differences from West Texas.
“I like Billings a lot,” he said. “Montana is a really nice place. The people are really nice and we draw like 3,500 a night. It is pretty exciting.”
When the season is over, Parker plans to head back to the University of Cincinnati to finish his degree. He has just three classes left.