Stone anchors Ogden Raptors offense by winning role as leadoff hitter
Raptors return Tuesday for six home games at Lindquist Field
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- Ogden Raptors outfielder Damian Stone swings at a Yuba-Sutter pitch on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden Raptors outfielder Damian Stone ranges under a fly ball against Yuba-Sutter on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden Raptors outfielder Damian Stone, right, prepares to bat against Yuba-Sutter on Friday, May 30, 2025, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden Raptors outfielder Damian Stone fouls off a pitch Sunday, June 1, against Yuba-Sutter at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden Raptors outfielder Damian Stone swings at a Yuba-Sutter pitch on May 27, 2025, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
OGDEN — The seeds for Damian Stone to take over as leadoff hitter for the Ogden Raptors were planted in spring camp.
The left-handed, 6-foot outfielder came to Ogden after finishing his college baseball career at UC Davis and got himself on the radar.
“There was a game where he had like seven hits, he goes 7 for 7, or 7 for 8. He just came in here and flat out won a job,” Raptors manager Evan Parker said. “We’re playing extended innings because it’s based on pitchers getting their inning total up, but still, it was crazy.”
Late in the Raptors’ home series against Yuba-Sutter, Stone was hitting .421 with an on-base percentage just shy of .500. He was putting the ball in play and finding holes often enough that Parker originally had him in the middle of the order to try and drive in runs before realizing he had a table-setter to top the lineup card.
“He’s going to be in the leadoff spot until he needs a day off,” Parker said. “I wanted Damian Stone to have the most at-bats out of anybody.”
A native of Fremont, California, Stone first played at UC Santa Barbara, then a junior college, then finished at UC Davis. He had played football, basketball and baseball in high school and focused on baseball as a senior even though he felt his tools were a little behind where he wanted to be.
“Baseball was my first passion, I played it since I was 3 years old, and I wasn’t big enough to really have football become something for me,” Stone said. “And I had too many concussions.”
Stone hit .306 with a .404 on-base percentage, drawing 18 walks and wearing 15 hit-by-pitches as a leadoff hitter. He struck out only 65 times in 103 games at UC Davis. But his averages fell to .264 and .350 as a three-hole hitter his senior season.
“I had a little draft interest after my junior year and I just tried to do way too much instead of just trusting myself and having fun,” Stone said.
So that may be a reason he’s found early pro success. He ran into second-year Raptors player Connor Bagnieski at the gym and got key advice: just have fun and don’t set expectations for yourself.
“Now I’m just going up thinking I’m going to barrel the ball and just smile, have fun doing it,” Stone said.
That’s returned Stone to form from his best college season. In Ogden’s leadoff spot, he’s drawn 15 walks in 18 games, nearly approaching his college high of 18 walks in 51 games.
Parker, knowing Stone’s senior-season numbers weren’t great, chalked it up to scouting. He saw Stone play at Nick Belmonte’s Florida Minor League Camp and thought he saw a ballplayer.
“I knew we were losing Jack Cone and needed an outfielder, and (Stone) just stood out to me,” Parker said. “I like his demeanor, he’s got good focus, the moment doesn’t get too big for him. … He plays a great outfield, he has great at-bats, has a good two-strike approach.
“He’s got that look in his eyes, he’s ready for it.”
Stone chalks it up to being adaptable.
“I can get deep into counts, I do well with two strikes, I can be aggressive when I need to, never really struck out too much,” Stone said. “My approach doesn’t really change if I’m in the leadoff spot or somewhere else.”
Now comes his first big test as a pro. Stone came off his high a bit in Ogden’s road trip to Boise, with his batting average falling to .339 while keeping his on-base percentage at .470. With the Raptors at 8-10 and returning home for a six-game homestand Tuesday through Saturday, the team could use a string of wins to move into first-half contention.
Stone’s role is key. As the oldest sibling and cousin in his extended family, though, he’s used to having eyes looking up to him.
“I’m lucky to have that. I’m grateful for it,” Stone said.
RAPTORS BACK AT LINDQUIST FIELD
Tuesday-Thursday
vs. Great Falls Voyagers (2-16)
Friday-Sunday
vs. Oakland Ballers (12-6)
Daily promotions: ogden-raptors.com/tickets/promotions
