STARKVILLE — While Mississippi State baseball coach John Cohen preaches the fundamentals every day in practice at Dudy Noble Field, he anticipates his 2012 team will be able to offer something different, especially in batting practice.
One player who will command attention is Hunter Renfroe, a 6-foot-2, 211-pounder who attracts attention from fans and teammates every time he steps in the batting cage.
“Hunter is one of those few players I’ve ever been around, even as an assistant on Team USA (in 2005), where we had 20 of the best freshman and sophomores in the country, Hunter is one of those kids that when he takes BP our whole team shuts down and says, ‘Oh my goodness, look at this,’ ” Cohen said Monday in his preseason media session. “He takes the mound and everybody is behind home plate (wondering), ‘Is he touching 100 (mph) today?’. Hunter is a special talent.”
The praise is high when you consider the 2005 national team Cohen served as a assistant on under Baylor coach Steve Smith had current Major League Baseball starters in Tampa Bay left-handed pitcher David Price, Baltimore catcher Matt Wieters, Arizona right-handed pitcher Ian Kennedy, and St. Louis center fielder Jon Jay. However, that same praise may not be unwarranted when you talk to professional scouts about Renfroe, who could see playing time this season in the outfield, at catcher, at designated hitter, and as a relief pitcher. The Boston Red Sox selected Renfroe in the 31st round of the MLB 2010 First-Year Player Draft. Renfroe turned down more than $100,000 from the organization to honor his National Letter of Intent to MSU.
“Renfroe is one of the major x-factors in the SEC,” Baseball America national writer Aaron Fitt said. “If this guy can start tapping into his potential, look out. The sky is the limit with the most raw power of anybody in the Southeastern Conference.”
MSU senior preseason All-America closer Caleb Reed, who admits he can’t throw a fastball near the velocity of Renfroe’s 98 mph stuff, said he still enjoys sitting on a bucket and watching batting practice the MSU coaches to predict what Renfroe will accomplish that day in practice.
“When he takes BP right now, everybody — me and all the coaches always have a bet of how many home runs we think he’ll hit this round,” Reed said. “It’s impressive to watch. I got to watch him a couple of times, but when Jeff Flagg used to take BP, they said it’s a lot like when Jeff used to take BP. Everybody likes to see how far it does go when he actually hits it.”
Flagg, who was drafted in the 27th round by the New York Mets and still plays in their minor league system, had his best season as a sophomore in 2006, when he hit .312 with 23 RBIs and five home runs in 35 games. The expectations for Renfroe, who hit .154 with two RBIs in 26 at-bats last season, are slightly higher. In fact, Cohen thinks the sophomore could contend for SEC Player of the Year honors before his college career is over.
“He’s got a real chance to be a much-needed physical presence in the middle of their lineup this season,” Fitt said.
The power of the old days in the 3-4-5 spots, including when Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro played at MSU in 1984-85, should be back at Dudy Noble Field this season. Cohen, who earned first-team All-SEC honors as a senior at MSU in 1990, hopes the confidence of Renfroe and several inexperienced power hitters will carry into the season.
Last season was one of four campaigns since 1992 MSU failed to have a hitter reach 10 home runs. MSU was 10th in the SEC in home runs with 30, 39 behind conference leader University of Florida. The gap likely won’t as big this season.
“In the middle of the lineup this year you have scary guys, but they just don’t have that type of experience,” Cohen said. “Hunter Renfroe is a scary guy that can hit balls on top of that bathroom out there (more than 400 feet way from home plate in left field). (Sophomore first baseman) Wes Rea is a scary guy that is swinging the bat very well. (Sophomore third baseman) Daryl Norris has power in the middle of the lineup. Trey Porter is a junior college transfer that has real power from the left side. There’s some meat in the middle of the order.”
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