Player: Ben Verlander
School: Old Dominion University
Position: 1B/OF
Year: Junior
If you follow baseball even the slightest bit, the last name Verlander should be very familiar to you. However, Old Dominion junior right fielder Ben Verlander is making a name for himself this season that will put him on your radar as much more than simply Justin’s younger brother. Here’s a quick look at why you should keep your eyes peeled for Ben Verlander:
He can hit…really well
- Verlander has made 22 appearances so far this season, and in those 22 games he has had 70 at bats
- In those 70 at bats, Verlander has 31 hits, good for a batting average of .443 thus far
- He’s had a five-hit game this season, a seven-RBI game and eight games with multiple hits so far on the year
He has legitimate power:
- Of his 31 hits so far this season, nearly half (13) have been for extra bases
- The breakdown of the 13 extra base hits that Verlander has so far is eight home runs, two triples and three doubles
- That all adds up to 62 total bases so far on the season and a slugging percentage of .886 as of March 27
His athleticism is no joke
- At 6’4, 190 Verlander has a solid, athletic frame with room for growth
- Up until the 2013 season, Verlander was a two-way player for the Monarchs making 21 appearances on the mound for Old Dominion in 2011 and 11 in 2012
- Defensively he has yet to have an error this season and his defensive highlights at Old Dominion include a diving catch in the 2012 season finale
The Bottom Line: Since making the transition from a two-way player to primarily a position player, Verlander has become one of the best players in the country at the plate. He has already been honored twice as CAA Player of the Week and his statistics rank near the top nationally in nearly every offensive category.
Is there a player that you think should be featured next on College Baseball Daily’s On the Map? If so, tweet or email Ginger Poulson (@gingerpoulson) at ginger.poulson@collegebaseballdaily.com with the player’s name, school and a brief description of why you think they should be on everyone’s radar!
