Ryan Waldschmidt peaking at right time for Bat Cats
Kentucky Baseball junior left fielder Ryan Waldschmidt is peaking at the right time for the surging Bat Cats.
Waldschmidt, who spent the entire offseason rehabbing from a torn ACL, has been playing like one of the best players in the country since the start of conference play.
The Charleston Southern transfer has made his case for an All-SEC selection, as his .414 batting average in SEC play ranks third in the conference behind Georgia’s Charlie Condon (.431) and Tennessee’s Blake Burke (.416).
As of April 25, Waldschmidt is in the midst of a 10-game hitting streak. Taking it further however, he has totaled multiple hits in six consecutive games, dating back to April 12.
“Whenever you’re doing well you have confidence through the roof,” Waldschmidt said after Kentucky’s 5-3 win over Tennessee on April 19. “I’m seeing the ball really well right now. The biggest thing is what coach Mingione preaches all the time, ‘at midnight it expires, wins, loss, draw, 0-4, 4-4.’ It’s over at midnight. So for me to keep that same mindset going through each game, everyday’s a new day. That really helps me.”
Over this stretch, the junior is 21/42 from the plate, a pristine .500 batting average. He’s also launched six of his eight home runs, totaled four doubles and drove in 17 RBI.
His best game of the season came against Louisville on April 16. Waldschmidt went 3-5 against the Cards with two home runs, a double, and six RBI, setting his Kentucky career high in home runs in a game (two), RBI in a game (six), and runs in a game (4).
Due to his high level of play, Waldschmidt has emerged as a potential mid-round draft pick in the upcoming MLB Draft.
“His analytics are really good in all the models,” said D1Baseball’s Burke Granger. “Outfield hurts him a little but could see him going early day two. I like the bat speed, the corresponding exit velocity & he can run. Doesn’t throw particularly well and the outfield play isn’t stellar. The model will get him drafted higher than he should. I have him in the fourth.”
The No. 4 ranked Bat Cats are back in action this weekend when they travel to No. 20 South Carolina for a week series.
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