D.J. Hicks may be a staple in the UCF lineup throughout his career.
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
ORLANDO (UCFAthletics.com) – UCF’s two starters at first base and designated hitter could have a huge impact on the Knights’ offense this year. In part five of the UCF season preview, head coach Terry Rooney talks about Kiko Vazquez, D.J. Hicks and Evan Stobbs.
First Base/Designated Hitter
D.J. Hicks – Fr. – Drafted in the 49th round, Orlando Sentinel’s Central Florida High School Player of the Year
Evan Stobbs – So. – .372, 23 GP, 9 GS, 43 AB, 10 R, 16 H, 2 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 12 RBI
Kiko Vazquez – Sr. – .278, 18 GP, 18 GS, 72 AB, 13 R, 20 H, 5 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, .986 FLD%
Absent from the lineup for the first 40 games of 2008 due to a preseason injury, Kiko Vazquez has been itching to help the Knights as much as possible this year. The 2007 All-C-USA First Team member still remains one of the top offensive performers in the league, and is primed for another stellar campaign at first base.
“Kiko Vazquez, without question, is our starting first baseman,” said Rooney. “He is one of the more proven hitters in C-USA, and in my opinion one of the best in the country. Kiko is a guy who could have an All-American-type season for us. He has displayed fantastic leadership from the moment we started in the fall. He is on a mission this year. He wants to have the best year of his career, and has come back from his injury in tremendous physical shape. Kiko had a great fall swinging the bat.
“You will also see D.J. Hicks at first base, and he is a legitimate two-way player. He is a guy who is going to get the ball in big innings on the mound for us, but also in a lot of ways is the future of our lineup. That’s a big statement but it’s true. He is a left-handed hitter with tremendous power, and could hit for double-digit home runs at some point in his career. And then Evan Stobbs is another legitimate two-way player, and he’s going to get time on the mound along with some at-bats. But the one thing he does is provide a right-handed bat off the bench, as the majority of our lineup is left-handed hitters.
“The role of the DH will be a changing role and depend on what we want on a given day. D.J. is a great option as a freshman with probably as much power as anybody on our team. When he stands up to the plate, he has the chance to drive the ball over the fence and into gaps. Evan has similar qualities, and certainly either one of the catchers or Nick Choto could also DH for us.”
