51s catcher considers batter’s box his personal chat room

51s catcher J.P. Arencibia likes to talk and often carries on conversations with opposing hitters while they're in the batter's box.

"I know a lot of guys who I've played against will tell me, 'Hey, man, you need to talk during my entire at-bat?' " he said. "But it's part of my personality and it helps me play.

"If I'm a guy who tries to be too serious, where I can't talk, I don't play to the best of my abilities. When I'm loose, I play my best, so that's where I try to be at."

If that's the case, the affable Arencibia has managed to stay loose for virtually his entire career.

The Miami native equaled Alex Rodriguez's career record for home runs, with 17, at Westminster Christian High School and then compiled a .330 career batting average in college at Tennessee.

Drafted in the first round by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007, Arencibia batted .298 with 27 home runs and 105 RBIs in 2008, his first full professional season. He played 126 combined games at Single-A Dunedin and Double-A New Hampshire.

But last season, which he spent entirely with the 51s, Arencibia failed to live up to his own lofty expectations for the first time in his life.

He hit 21 homers with 32 doubles and 75 RBIs in 116 games, but batted a career-low .236 and never received his much-anticipated call to the majors.

"Last year, I tried to press to get out of here as fast as possible and make it to the major leagues, and it went against me," he said. "At the end of the year, when I knew I was going to be here, that's when I played my best.

"It's just a matter of being more relaxed and not putting pressure on myself."

Batting .250 (3-for-12) with three RBIs in three games this season, Arencibia also strives to keep his pitching staff at ease, especially in pressure situations.

"I'll go out to the mound and say something completely irrelevant to baseball," he said. "I'll ask (our pitcher) what he ate or say something stupid just to loosen him up."

51s left-hander David Purcey said Arencibia's laid-back approach helped him relax last season.

"He came out there once and calmed me down a little bit, because my adrenaline was going too much," he said.

But there are times when Arencibia, 24, should tone down his act, Las Vegas manager Dan Rohn said.

"He talks too much at times and that's one of the things we've got to clean up," he said. "When you go out there between the lines, you have to focus on getting your pitcher through that inning and not worry about being a chatty-chat."

Although he continues to talk the talk, Arencibia usually walks the walk as well. Ranked Toronto's No. 4 prospect this season, he has made a lot of strides on defense and handling of the pitching staff and has a good shot at making it to the majors this year, Rohn said.

"There's no doubt, he's got a chance," he said. "He's got all the talent in the world, he's just got to put everything together and concentrate."

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.