Wingnuts’ Ryan Khoury one victory from reaching crowning achievement

Ryan Khoury is living his best-case scenario.

The Wingnuts shortstop came close to retiring after getting married during the offseason, but Khoury decided to return for his third season in Wichita.

Khoury wanted another chance at an elusive American Association championship after the Wingnuts lost in the finals the last two seasons, but he knew there were no guarantees. Wichita is close to realizing Khoury’s vision and can clinch the title Saturday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

The Wingnuts lead Lincoln 2-0 in the best-of-five championship series, and all remaining games are scheduled for Wichita.

“We’ve got one more game to finish it off,” Khoury said. “But that was the thought coming back, just the people that were going to be here and just getting to the championship and winning it.… There were no goals, it was just ‘Get to the championship and win it.’”

Khoury has never won a professional championship. During six seasons in the Boston Red Sox organization, the teams on which he played had a combined winning percentage of .498, though he spent five years at multiple levels.

Khoury turned 30 before this season and began envisioning a life away from baseball, especially after he was married. But after talking with teammate Jake Kahaulelio, who almost retired before the 2013 season, Khoury was sold on the idea of going for it again.

He’s doing so without the on-field presence of Kahaulelio, his double-play partner since 2011. Kahaulelio was injured late in the year and is out for the playoffs, leaving Khoury as the only Wingnuts player who has been active for the least three complete seasons.

Abel Nieves has filled in nicely at second base and Khoury said Kahaulelio has embraced his new role.

“It’s been different,” Khoury said of playing without Kahaulelio. “Not so much as far as (on the field), because me and Abel work really well together. I know everything (Kahaulelio) has been through, and he knows everything I’ve been through in the three years here.

“We had talked about getting back to this point, so for him not to be able to be out there, I know he’s done everything he can to try to get back out there, it’s just not going to be possible. It’s a little bit bittersweet, but he’s still been a great teammate. He still comes to (batting practice) and he still shags balls, and you can’t ask for anything better than that.”

The Wingnuts won 68 games to set an AA record in 2013 and didn’t figure it could be topped. Part of the reason they jumped to 73 wins this year is because Khoury made an exponential leap.

Always one of Wichita’s best offensive players – he drew 117 walks over his first two years and stole 63 bases – Khoury has become one of its best hitters. He batted .315 this season with a career-high 12 home runs and more walks and stolen bases than he had last year.

“Honestly, I didn’t really have any goals as far as numbers,” Khoury said. “… I guess I was probably a little more relaxed. I didn’t really look at the stats all that much, I just really tried to bond with this new set of teammates, which obviously we were able to do, and just be a guy who gets on base and sets the tone.”

Khoury hasn’t decided on playing next year. The season may only have one more day remaining, but it’s impossible to look beyond Saturday.

“I haven’t even really talked to a whole lot of people, except for my wife and my mom and dad,” Khoury said. “We’re so close to the whole reason for me coming back, and we’re so close to getting it done, and I’m just focused on that.”

This story was originally published September 12, 2014 at 5:26 PM with the headline "Wingnuts’ Ryan Khoury one victory from reaching crowning achievement."