The ailing Ohio State baseball team will look to its outfielders to turn it around. The trio of veteran outfielders will need to continue their offensive outburst if the Buckeyes are to win another Big Ten championship.
Seniors Zach Hurley and Michael Stephens join redshirt junior Brian DeLucia to make up the Buckeye outfield. Together, the three have dominated opposing pitching. They lead the most potent offense in the Big Ten and expect to continue doing so.
“Our expectations are so high,” Stephens said. “We know the power we possess and the type of run scoring we can do.”
The trio’s power has been on display all season, as they have combined for 113 RBIs and 20 of the team’s 31 home runs. While the three effectively patrol the outfield, it’s their bats that make them indispensable.
DeLucia, the Buckeyes’ everyday right fielder, credits their success with focusing on their offense.
“I think we’ve been concentrating on our bats a lot,” DeLucia said. “We realize, playing in the outfield, you don’t always have to work on your defense as much as the infielders.”
The three will need to continue working on their offense if they’re to stop the team’s current skid. After winning its first three Big Ten series, the team has now dropped its last three and lost six of its last eight games overall.
The Buckeyes have fallen to fifth in the conference after leading through the first three weeks of play. And with pitcher Alex Wimmers missing his past two starts because of a hamstring injury, even more pressure falls on the Buckeye bats.
“We’re in a situation where our hitting needs to take over,” Stephens said.
The three have proven they’re capable of doing just that.
Stephens, a junior college transfer from California, joined DeLucia and Hurley, both Ohio natives. Since Stephens’ arrival, he has instantly gelled with the team and become a mainstay in center field.
Stephens’ ability to quickly mesh has been key to the outfielders’ ability to communicate.
DeLucia said they are constantly in communication whether in the outfield or in the dugout, and the three have consistently helped each other work on their game.
The veterans also feed off each other’s hot hitting, which has led them all to outstanding seasons at the plate. On top of being the team’s top run-producers, they all have batting averages well over .300.
Hurley’s .387 average is the team’s best and he also leads the team with 42 runs scored from the leadoff position. Stephens, who bats fourth in the Buckeye lineup, leads the team with eight home runs and 39 runs batted in.
“I’m lucky to have them in the outfield with me,” DeLucia said of his teammates. “They’re both great hitters and great outfielders.”
