College Baseball Daily continues our countdown to the start of the 2013 college baseball season by checking in on the Top 100 Players in the country. We will be adding players day-by-day until we get to number one!
Number 45 on our Top 100 Countdown is Virginia Tech’s Chad Pinder. The 6’2 third baseman from Poquoson, Virginia was one of the top prospects in the Cape over the summer of 2012.
During his freshman season in 2011, Pinder appeared in 37 games for the Hokies including 27 starts, most of which were at right field. Throughout the season Pinder posted a batting average of .317 with 21 runs and 14 RBI. He also had a slugging percentage of .510 and an on base percentage of .368.
In 2012, Pinder had another successful season at Virginia Tech as he appeared in 53 games, starting all of them at third base. He posted a batting average of .325 with 36 runs, 22 doubles and seven home runs. He also had 37 RBI, in addition to a slugging percentage of .538 and an on base percentage of .380. His success continued into the summer where he played for the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod League. In his 21 appearances with Chatham before ending his summer early due to a hernia operation, Pinder was batting .278 with 25 RBI, four home runs and 12 runs. His success in the Cape earned him the title of Baseball America’s 13th best prospect in the Cape League.
From a scouting perspective, Pinder has shown several glimpses of serious big league potential. Defensively, he is a very exciting and talented player who really has the ability to make plays that are out of the ordinary. He not only has a great arm but he’s also quick and has a great feel for the position which shows off his defensive instinct that any team would love to see in the hot corner. Offensively, he adjusts well at the plate and has solid power with room for continued growth. With the skills that he already demonstrates and a very high ceiling, Pinder is one of the top players to watch for in 2013.
You can check out the rest of our Top 100 by clicking here.
