Here is another article by Wright....mainly about Schubart
Schubart will be focal point of Cowboys’ lineup
STILLWATER — Nolan Schubart shrugged at the idea that he might need to change his hitting approach in his junior season as opponents begin to game plan more specifically on getting him out.
The Oklahoma State outfielder had more established protection around him in the lineup last year, including Carson Benge, who was a first-round pick by the New York Mets in last summer’s Major League Baseball Draft.
The 6-foot-5, 234-pound Schubart could follow in Benge’s footsteps as a first-round pick if this season goes as expected. But Schubart knows for his immense talent to show, he must remain true to himself, regardless of how opponents attack him.
'The approach stays the same,' Schubart said Wednesday at the OSU baseball media day at O’Brate Stadium. 'I know the guys that will be surrounding me this year are gonna be just as talented as last year and have just as much power and control of their bat as we did last year.'
While Benge and fellow outfielder Zach Ehrhard, who graduated last summer, were second and third on the team in batting average and home runs last year, Schubart believes others like Aidan Meola and Colin Brueggemann will fill the void in the middle of the lineup.
And there’s excitement for Jayson Jones, a transfer from Arkansas who had four home runs and 17 RBIs in just 23 games as a sophomore last season.
So the lineup has some pop once again, but Schubart, who was named the preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, will be the focal point of every opposing pitching staff. He batted .370 with a .513 on-base percentage, leading the Cowboys with 23 home runs and 68 RBIs.
'He did that playing amongst other great players, and I think that’s a comforting thing for any player,' said OSU coach Josh Holliday, who is entering his 13th season. 'Now people will probably try to steer around him when they can.
'If the opponent tries to neutralize certain things he can do or pitch around him, he has to be willing to take his walks and contribute to the offense by getting on base.'
After bursting onto the scene as a freshman, Schubart got off to a slow start at the plate last season and battled an injury that kept him off the field for multiple weeks. But once he got going, he never let up.
Holliday pointed to Schubart’s consistency in his approach at the plate, which also bleeds over to other aspects of his life.
'That was put in my head at a young age,' Schubart said. 'My dad was a high school coach, so growing up, he was teaching me to stay consistent and pushing me each day. I took that into my game, thinking that if I stay consistent every day, I’ll continue to build my game.'
Schubart primarily played left field last year, and could be back there again, though he is also practicing right field and first base, bringing some defensive versatility to his game. But his bat remains his primary tool for impacting OSU’s hopes of another postseason appearance.
And that’s where his consistent approach can benefit him most.
'Most of the time, the guys that can build on successful seasons and have additional successful seasons are those that continue to maintain that poise to just play the pitch correctly,' Holliday said. 'Sometimes that’s hard to do, because you want to impact the game.
'But you can only impact the game as it comes to you.'
Schubart will be focal point of Cowboys’ lineup
STILLWATER — Nolan Schubart shrugged at the idea that he might need to change his hitting approach in his junior season as opponents begin to game plan more specifically on getting him out.
The Oklahoma State outfielder had more established protection around him in the lineup last year, including Carson Benge, who was a first-round pick by the New York Mets in last summer’s Major League Baseball Draft.
The 6-foot-5, 234-pound Schubart could follow in Benge’s footsteps as a first-round pick if this season goes as expected. But Schubart knows for his immense talent to show, he must remain true to himself, regardless of how opponents attack him.
'The approach stays the same,' Schubart said Wednesday at the OSU baseball media day at O’Brate Stadium. 'I know the guys that will be surrounding me this year are gonna be just as talented as last year and have just as much power and control of their bat as we did last year.'
While Benge and fellow outfielder Zach Ehrhard, who graduated last summer, were second and third on the team in batting average and home runs last year, Schubart believes others like Aidan Meola and Colin Brueggemann will fill the void in the middle of the lineup.
And there’s excitement for Jayson Jones, a transfer from Arkansas who had four home runs and 17 RBIs in just 23 games as a sophomore last season.
So the lineup has some pop once again, but Schubart, who was named the preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, will be the focal point of every opposing pitching staff. He batted .370 with a .513 on-base percentage, leading the Cowboys with 23 home runs and 68 RBIs.
'He did that playing amongst other great players, and I think that’s a comforting thing for any player,' said OSU coach Josh Holliday, who is entering his 13th season. 'Now people will probably try to steer around him when they can.
'If the opponent tries to neutralize certain things he can do or pitch around him, he has to be willing to take his walks and contribute to the offense by getting on base.'
After bursting onto the scene as a freshman, Schubart got off to a slow start at the plate last season and battled an injury that kept him off the field for multiple weeks. But once he got going, he never let up.
Holliday pointed to Schubart’s consistency in his approach at the plate, which also bleeds over to other aspects of his life.
'That was put in my head at a young age,' Schubart said. 'My dad was a high school coach, so growing up, he was teaching me to stay consistent and pushing me each day. I took that into my game, thinking that if I stay consistent every day, I’ll continue to build my game.'
Schubart primarily played left field last year, and could be back there again, though he is also practicing right field and first base, bringing some defensive versatility to his game. But his bat remains his primary tool for impacting OSU’s hopes of another postseason appearance.
And that’s where his consistent approach can benefit him most.
'Most of the time, the guys that can build on successful seasons and have additional successful seasons are those that continue to maintain that poise to just play the pitch correctly,' Holliday said. 'Sometimes that’s hard to do, because you want to impact the game.
'But you can only impact the game as it comes to you.'
