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Texas A&M Baseball: Aggies Ready for Another SEC Test Against Auburn

By Matthew McNairy

Jul 20, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; A baseball rests on top of the mound before a game between the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox at Safeco Field. Seattle defeated Chicago, 6-5, in eleven innings. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 20, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; A baseball rests on top of the mound before a game between the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox at Safeco Field. Seattle defeated Chicago, 6-5, in eleven innings. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /
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At the Plate

The key bats in this series are Nick Choruby, Cole Bedford, and Braden Shewmake. Choruby is doing everything you would want in a leadoff man. He’s drawing the most walks on the team by far with 26 and owns a ridiculous on base percentage near .450. Bedford is doing a great job in the two spot batting .321 in conference play. Shewmake has seen a slight dip dip in his SEC stats (.243 avg .300 obp compared to a .364 avg and an .400 obp overall). Based on his maturity and approach at the plate, I believe that average will soon rise.

My X factors for our offense are George Janca and Logan Foster. Who is A&M’s leader in batting average, home runs, RBI’s, total bases, and on base percentage during SEC play? George Janca.

The junior third baseman is quietly tearing the cover off the ball to a tune of a .371 avg, 3 HR’s, 10 RBIs, 23 total bases, and an obp of .371. To put this into context, Janca is batting nearly .100 higher in SEC play and more than half of his RBI have come in SEC play. That’s incredible considering the pitching depth of the SEC.  The Aggies certainly hope that this streak is sustainable.

On the other hand, freshman Logan Foster had a great start to the season, but has faltered in SEC play, batting .154 in 9 games. Despite his poor average in conference play, he is still contributing. He’s drawn four walks and raising his SEC obp to .267. Will he revert back to the .319 overall average he has posted, or will SEC pitchers continue to figure him out?