Are the Power Bats Back?
It is no secret that recently the University of Miami baseball team has lacked the power bat. Of course, with the ball being used the past several years, just about everyone has to some degree lacked power in the lineup. But Miami has been extremely short in the long ball category. The Canes have sparingly had the power hitter recently, such as Yasmani Grandal and Peter O’Brien, but the lineup as a whole, since 2008, has not been consistently a threat to go deep. Could this year be the season where that changes?
Enter a new baseball being used that is supposed to fly farther, and most teams should at least take a step forward in the power department. But also enter returnee, reigning freshman of the year Zack Collins, third team All-ACC Willie Abreu, and a healthy, coming off a strong Cape Cod performance, David Thompson, and the homeruns should certainly increase.
Collins knocked 11 homeruns last season, and this is after a horrific start to the season in which he found himself hitting below .100 after the first few weeks. He will be one of the supreme power hitters in the entire country this season. Abreu, who only hit one bomb last season, is expected to make a jump in the power department this year. Thompson, who battled injury last season and missed most of the year, did not hit any shots last season, but as a freshman hit six. A healthy Thompson could certainly see double-digit homeruns on the year.
Adding to this returning trio is third baseman George Iskenderian, who transfers from Indian River. Iskenderian is a physical third baseman that actually ended one of the intersquad games with a walk-off homerun. He should add some pop to the lineup. Coach Morris believes Jacob Heyward could make the biggest jump in power this year. Heyward only started 11 games last season and did not hit any homeruns, but was a power hitter in high school, and definitely has the physical build to become a deep threat.
Justin Smith is the incoming freshman most likely to provide power in the lineup. Smith is raw, which could mean we do not see much of that power this season, but at 6’2” 205, he certainly has the build to be a deep threat.
Even Garrett Kennedy, who has struggled offensively throughout his career at Miami, has shown a little power over the years. In fact, Kennedy hit both of his homeruns last season against nationally ranked Florida. In 2013, Kennedy hit three homeruns. It is unknown how much playing time Kennedy is going to receive with Collins also being a catcher, but maybe the senior Kennedy will provide much needed rest for Collins and provide a little power to the lineup.
Everyone is aware that Coach Morris loves small ball. It is almost automatic that if our leadoff hitter of the inning gets on base that the next hitter is laying down a sacrifice bunt. So it may be something of an anomaly to expect a huge increase in power numbers. But with the new ball, and the physical lineup that Miami is going to put out there each game, the numbers should certainly increase. The 3-4-5 hitters of Collins-Thompson-Abreu (whichever order they may be) should certainly be one of the most potent middle of the lineups in the country. Add that type of protection in the lineup, and hopefully guys like Heyward and Iskenderian see pitches that they can hit. The season is just around the corner, and remember…Chicks dig the long ball.
It is no secret that recently the University of Miami baseball team has lacked the power bat. Of course, with the ball being used the past several years, just about everyone has to some degree lacked power in the lineup. But Miami has been extremely short in the long ball category. The Canes have sparingly had the power hitter recently, such as Yasmani Grandal and Peter O’Brien, but the lineup as a whole, since 2008, has not been consistently a threat to go deep. Could this year be the season where that changes?
Enter a new baseball being used that is supposed to fly farther, and most teams should at least take a step forward in the power department. But also enter returnee, reigning freshman of the year Zack Collins, third team All-ACC Willie Abreu, and a healthy, coming off a strong Cape Cod performance, David Thompson, and the homeruns should certainly increase.
Collins knocked 11 homeruns last season, and this is after a horrific start to the season in which he found himself hitting below .100 after the first few weeks. He will be one of the supreme power hitters in the entire country this season. Abreu, who only hit one bomb last season, is expected to make a jump in the power department this year. Thompson, who battled injury last season and missed most of the year, did not hit any shots last season, but as a freshman hit six. A healthy Thompson could certainly see double-digit homeruns on the year.
Adding to this returning trio is third baseman George Iskenderian, who transfers from Indian River. Iskenderian is a physical third baseman that actually ended one of the intersquad games with a walk-off homerun. He should add some pop to the lineup. Coach Morris believes Jacob Heyward could make the biggest jump in power this year. Heyward only started 11 games last season and did not hit any homeruns, but was a power hitter in high school, and definitely has the physical build to become a deep threat.
Justin Smith is the incoming freshman most likely to provide power in the lineup. Smith is raw, which could mean we do not see much of that power this season, but at 6’2” 205, he certainly has the build to be a deep threat.
Even Garrett Kennedy, who has struggled offensively throughout his career at Miami, has shown a little power over the years. In fact, Kennedy hit both of his homeruns last season against nationally ranked Florida. In 2013, Kennedy hit three homeruns. It is unknown how much playing time Kennedy is going to receive with Collins also being a catcher, but maybe the senior Kennedy will provide much needed rest for Collins and provide a little power to the lineup.
Everyone is aware that Coach Morris loves small ball. It is almost automatic that if our leadoff hitter of the inning gets on base that the next hitter is laying down a sacrifice bunt. So it may be something of an anomaly to expect a huge increase in power numbers. But with the new ball, and the physical lineup that Miami is going to put out there each game, the numbers should certainly increase. The 3-4-5 hitters of Collins-Thompson-Abreu (whichever order they may be) should certainly be one of the most potent middle of the lineups in the country. Add that type of protection in the lineup, and hopefully guys like Heyward and Iskenderian see pitches that they can hit. The season is just around the corner, and remember…Chicks dig the long ball.
