MORGANTOWN — Jordon Yost has a bright future as West Virginia University’s freshman first baseman.
“He could be great,” coach Greg Van Zant said. “We redshirted him last year. He’s getting better as we go this season.
“There aren’t many kids out there that have the power he has. And he is a big target for fielders to throw to.”
Yost, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound Beckley native, was batting .349 before he went 1-for-9 in last weekend’s two games against Cincinnati.
But he reassures anyone who asks that he’s definitely not in a hitting slump.
He explained that Pat Sherald, WVU’s hitting coach, has been working with him on shortening his swing and also hitting the ball the other way.
“I wasn’t seeing the ball very well (vs. UC), and the pitcher did a good job,” Yost said. “Sometimes you have to tip your cap to the pitcher.”
His batting average has slipped to .326 for 25 games. He has 30 hits for 92 at-bats, driven in 23 runs, and belted a team-high eight home runs.
He also owns a .609 slugging percentage and 12 bases on ball.
“I don’t know that we’ve ever had a freshman that has been able to hit that well starting off,” Van Zant said. “Some guys played their whole career here and didn’t hit a home run.
“Jordon has a lot of natural physical ability, and he hasn’t even tapped onto it yet. He’s got a lot of work to do to get where he could be.”
Despite missing seven of the Mountaineers’ first 32 games, Yost owns 30 hits for 92 at-bats.
As a fielder, he has made 192 putouts and 16 assists, while committing just three errors. His fielding percentage is .986.
“I wish he’d played first base when I played here,” the veteran head coach said. “He’s a big target (for the relaying infielders).”
Yost played third baseman as a ninth grader at Woodrow Wilson High School. But he has been a first baseman ever since.
“You don’t get very many balls hit to you, but you’re involved in every play,” he noted. “And that’s fun.
“I had to dive for a couple balls last weekend. The wet grass made the ball slippery, and the fielder’s throws were high.”
Yost admittedly learned a lot just sitting out and watching last spring.
“Sitting on the bench, it seemed like Coach Van Zant was pointing out something to me on almost every play,” he said.
“It was situational learning that makes you a better player. There were a lot of things I didn’t even know before I came up here.
“They showed me more in detail about how to play the game.”
While he’s still learning, he’s happy with his progress. “I started a little slowly this season at the plate, but I feel that working hard has really helped me,” he said.
Yost couldn’t be happier at WVU, where he’s majoring in speech pathology and audiology.
He said, “This is the only place I want to be — a West Virginia boy playing for the home-state Mountaineers.”
Van Zant said, “He’s a very intelligent kid, and he’s got a great attitude. He’s very coachable. He works hard, and he’ll keep getting better.”
Yost owns the all-time home run record for West Virginia American Legion baseball, in which he was named a two-time state player of the year.
He also made the all-state high school first team twice after being named two years to the second team.
Additionally, he was the state goalkeeper of the year for the Woodrow Wilson soccer team and played on the 2004 state champion basketball squad.
Counters
View My Guestbook
Sign My Guestbook
SITE LINKS
