Baty belts first pro homer

Former Kansas University baseball standout Ryan Baty hit his first professional home run when the Hudson Valley Renegades thumped the New Jersey Cardinals, 10-3, Friday night at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, N.Y.

In just his third game after beginning the season on the disabled list, Baty slugged a two-run home run during a seven-run third inning for the Class A farm team of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

“After a month on the DL, it was a good feeling,” Baty told the Poughkeepsie Journal. “My focus right now is to keep things simple.”

Baty suffered a concussion after being beaned during an extended spring training game in early June in St. Petersburg, Fla.