Nook Logan can see it, smell it and taste it. A minor league prospect in the Detroit Tigers farm system, he’s getting that hunger and desire to make it to the big leagues now that he’s sitting at the Tigers’ Class AAA camp.

It’s conveniently located within walking distance of the big camp in Lakeland, Fla.

So it’s there the Natchez native spends his afternoons working, improving his skills and just trying to do his best to improve his stock. He spent some time in the big league camp and took cuts against top pitchers like Tom Glavine, Andy Pettitte, C.C. Sabathia and Roy Oswalt.

When the assignment came to go to minor league camp, the speedy Logan probably could have been out-run by John Kruk to the minors camp next door.

&uot;It’s a little different playing on this field instead of a lot bigger field in front of thousands of people,&uot; Logan said. &uot;It’s just like going from a big league game to a little league game. It’s the whole atmosphere.&uot;

This spring was Logan’s second straight to spend time in the big league camp. A converted switch-hitter and the fastest player in the Tigers’ organization for three of the last four seasons, Logan has spent time trying to better his ability to hit left-handed and cut down on his strikeouts.

The 6-2, 180-pound center fielder spent all last season at double-A Erie (Pa.), but this spring he felt good about his time at the plate in the big camp. He got about 30 at-bats and pinch-ran on other occasions.

&uot;I don’t know exactly what (my average) was, but I put together some good at-bats, had a great camp,&uot; Logan said. &uot;I think I opened some people’s eyes. It was all I was trying to do &045; come here, work hard and hope things work out. I went to minor league camp, and things aren’t working out for me like that. Hopefully as the season starts I can step it up a notch.&uot;

Logan, entering his fourth season of pro ball, finished strong last season in Erie with a .251 batting average with at team-high 514 at-bats. But his 103 strikeouts and .316 on-base percentage are areas the organization would like to see improve.

&uot;Overall, I’d say I’ve been swinging it decent,&uot; he said. &uot;They don’t tell us anything, really. You just get your work in, go about your business and play the game. I hit on the left side every day, and I hit on the right side every day. Right now I feel comfortable.&uot;

Logan shared center field with Alex Sanchez in center, and the Tigers have big plans for Sanchez. Where Logan winds up when camp closes April 8 remains to be seen, but he said he’ll merely keep on working.

&uot;I knew coming in he was the starting center fielder,&uot; he said. &uot;I just came to play, man. I can’t say anything about what goes on over there because I’m not there. I just know it was a great experience. I don’t know where I’ll start the season. I’m ready for wherever they send me.&uot;

Adam Daigle

is sports editor of The Natchez Democrat. Reach him at (601) 445-3632 or at

adam.daigle@natchezdemocrat.com.