Ohio's leadoff hitter takes a seven-game hitting streak into opening conference series against Central Michigan.
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A good leadoff hitter finds a way on base, in whatever way possible. It hasn’t taken long for Manny De Jesus to figure that out.
De Jesus will remain atop the batting order when Ohio (11-6) heads to Central Michigan (13-8) to begin Mid-American Conference play this weekend. The three-game slate will feature an afternoon game on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The junior outfielder swung a hot bat for the Bobcats even before the lineup change, with a .387 average to go with eight RBIs and two doubles in eight games.
Since moving to the leadoff spot, however, De Jesus has posted a .400 average with three doubles and a triple in seven games. He has at least one hit in each of those seven games, including three multi-hit performances.
“You have to take a lot more pitches,” De Jesus said of his new role. “But whatever I can do for the team, I’ll be fine with it.”
Ohio coach Rob Smith said the move, which places shortstop and former leadoff hitter Garrett Black in the second spot, was initially to separate some of the left-handed batters by plugging in the right-handed De Jesus.
Left-handed batters are more valuable for advancing runners by pulling the ball to the right side of the field, rather than leading off when no runners are on base. Leading off with De Jesus, then following with the left-handed Black, makes sense.
“I think Manny’s a good leadoff hitter, a high on base guy,” Smith said, “and Garrett gives us some quality options with the bunt game and he certainly has the ability to hit a double and do some things like that.”
After suffering a three-game sweep against the Chippewas at the beginning of conference play last season, the Bobcats are looking to start their MAC schedule on a better note this time around.
The top of Ohio’s lineup has momentum going into the weekend against Central Michigan, but the team as a whole is also riding high after a 10-7 road win over Kentucky on Tuesday.
“We’re just gonna hope we can take that confidence and all those hits we got and hope it’ll carry over to this weekend,” senior outfielder Tyler Wells said.
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