#1 Hitting Season in the Valley: Jason Kipnis

Jason Kipnis, our #1, is a sophomore at Arizona State after transferring from Kentucky. As a freshman at UK in 2007, Jason hit 337/450/654 in 104 at-bats, showing little trouble adjusting to the college game.

Then he came to the Valley. Kipnis almost single-handedly drove the Covington Lumberjacks to the playoffs, putting up 318/498/591 numbers. In 154 at-bats over 47 games, he scored 46 runs, had 49 hits, 11 doubles, 2 triples, 9 home runs, 41 RBIs, an incredible 49/24 BB/K ratio, 9 hit-by-pitches, and 24 steals in 28 attempts for good measure.  He did this with little protection in the lineup. Jason was so locked in during the second half that he had 7 home runs after the All-Star game, in which he won the home run derby (batting as Kevin Bishop, or so the public address announcer insisted).

Kipnis finished eighth in the league in batting average, second in on-base percentage, second in slugging percentage, first in runs scored, second in RBIs, first in home runs (in the regular season- Jeremy Cruz tied him during the playoffs), second in total bases, and second in stolen bases (just one behind Spencer Wiggins).  That is a complete package; power, speed, and patience at the plate.  Both Baseball America and PG Crosschecker named him the #2 prospect in the league.

Well, here we are- all the way down to #1. While it wouldn't be possible to field a team with these ten guys, due to the large amount of outfielders and first basemen, these ten would make a potent lineup.  Three players from Winchester, two from Luray, and one each from Harrisonburg, Covington, Waynesboro, Haymarket, and New Market. Four first basemen, three outfielders, one catcher, one catcher/outfielder, and one middle infielder.  Where are the third basemen?

Thank you for indulging my need for lists!  The next list shall be (it is decreed) starting pitchers. More tough choices await us....

(Picture courtesy of Haymarket Joe)