Kris Honel, former White Sox draft pick, keeps on pitching
The old right of Providence Kris Honel and his father, Mike, crossed a lot and are close, but even Mike did not know how long his son was planning to stay on the mound.
HONEL – A launcher who was drafted in the first round, 16th in the general classification, by the Chicago White Sox in 2001 – underwent Tommy John surgery in 2005 and never reached major leagues.
But after being far from the game for more than 10 years, he gives another base to baseball with the Muskies of Beecher.
“I intend to launch up to 50 years old,” said Honel, 42, before a swimming pool game of July 31 in the National Amateur Baseball Federation World Series. “As long as my arm and my body hold out, I’m going to throw.”
Mike, who saw the ups and downs of her son’s career, was surprised to hear this.
“He wants to go at 50?” Said Mike. “Did he say that?” If he could do it, God bless him. I think 50 is a section. But he still likes to go there and likes competition.
“I suppose that until they tear you away from you, you might as well do it.”
The 6 -foot 4 inch honel also does not exclude a return to professional baseball. But he knows that there is a long way to go if he could withdraw such an unlikely feat.
“My speed was again in the mid -80s of the 80s,” said Kris. “It’s crazy. All the outings I launch, I’m getting better and better.
“This is not my immediate plan. But if I start throwing out again in the mid-90s, I may start thinking about it. We are not quite there yet.”
Honel, meanwhile, has fun playing with Muskies, an amateur team who won the Nabf Major Division World Series on August 3 in Naperville.
In the quarterfinals of August 2, Honel won a seven-round victory in a match in a 6-1 victory against the brave of Addison. He only granted one round in five strokes.
The Muskies beat the Berea Ohio Blue Sox 10-6 the next day to win their second title of the Nabf World Series, the first to come in 2010. Bremen Alum Marty Coyle and Bryce Shafer were appointed CO-MVP. The graduate of Andrew, AJ le, managed 12 strokes and 12 points produced for muskies in the World Series.
Honel, who lives in the Kankakee region, launched a handful of Muskies matches in 2024 after contacting the renowned temple coach Fred Lesage before the start of the season.
Honel said he had worked hard during the offseason as if he was heading for training in the spring.
“It comes for him,” said Lesage about Honel. “His things are really good. His quick ball is good, but his breakage ball is really good, and when his breakage things are running, he is unshakable.”
Honel said he had trained young players as well as the mentoring of secondary players. This helped to stint his interest in returning to the mound in a competitive manner.
After the 2001 draft, Honel played in Ball Affiliated from 2001 to 2008 but never exceeded the Double-A level. He had 5-7 with an MPM of 6.56 double-A Birmingham before opting for surgery. He played in independent leagues from 2009 to 2011 before hanging it the first time.
He said he was proud of his career.
“I lived my dreams,” he said. “Did I get to this top of the mountain where I wanted to be?” No. But at the same time, I was quite up there. I was on the list of big leagues when they won the World Series.
“I rubbed my elbows and I was able to play with some of the best players of this generation. I competed against them and I did well against them. This is something that I will always cherish and that I will never hold for granted. ”
Jeff Vorva is an independent journalist for the Daily Southtown.
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