Outfielders J.C. Holt, Ryan Patterson and Jon Zeringue turned successful postseason performances into a successful summer, starting in the Cape Cod League in Massachusetts.
In the league, which features solid pitching and wood bats, Holt took home the ultimate prize of Most Valuable Player in front of Major League scouts.
Holt, the league’s batting champion, hit .388. Zeringue hit .283 with three home runs and 22 RBIs and Patterson hit .288 with two home runs and 24 RBIs.
The idea of fall practice is to build on successful performances, said Holt, who struggled for the majority of his sophomore season after a solid freshman campaign.
“I made a vow to myself never to get back into a slump,” Holt said of his midseason struggles last year. “I’ve been working hard to stay at a high level. I’m working hard to keep it that way.”
Zeringue agreed, but said the Cape Cod League is a way of an individual showcasing himself rather than the team trying to come up with a solid performance.
“You really want to carry it over and improve things,” Zeringue said. “You come into fall to build on the season and focus on the team. Fall ball is all about the team getting better.”
To hitting coach Turtle Thomas, the fall practice season is about getting some of the older players to solidify their games. He said the players that were in the summer leagues had five weeks to rest and should be ready to go.
“They can’t be tired any longer,” Thomas said. “They have to recharge the battery a little bit. The older guys are trying to make improvements in some respects.”
Thomas said Holt is working on taking advantage of his speed by becoming a better bunter and Zeringue, who at times had trouble with technique and pitch selection last year, is working on improving in those areas.
“I’m just trying to improve my bat speed,” Zeringue said. “I want to cut down on strikeouts and just pick up a curve better.”
In the meantime, fall practice signifies the true beginning of the season in terms of when the hard work begins toward one goal: a return trip to Omaha, Neb. and the College World Series.
“The fall – if you don’t think it’s the beginning [of the season], you don’t belong here,” Zeringue said. “We’re in it for the long haul.”
Patterson said the coming year could bode well for the Tigers.
“Last year and only being able to stay a few days [upset us],” Patterson said. “This year we’re going to have a better chance.” Thomas said the team has some work left to do.
“A little bit of our motto is unfinished business,” Thomas said. “It’s the means of getting to an end, just trying to put it together.”