Mat-Su player’s walk total a minor statistical oddity

PALMER — Jordin Hood is now averaging one walk per every 113 plate appearances.

Hood, a Northern Illinois sophomore and Mat-Su Miners left fielder drew his first walk of the season during Mat-Su’s 7-0 victory over the AIA Fire at Hermon Brothers Field on Friday.

While one base on balls in 113 plate appearances may be a statistical oddity, the Hawthorne Woods, Ill., product isn’t exactly concerned about his lack of success in the walks category.

“I haven’t really thought a whole lot about it,” Hood said after the Mat-Su win. “I’ve seen a lot of good pitches and I’ve swung early in the count.”

Late in Mat-Su’s win, Hood drew three straight balls from AIA reliever Timothy Urbanowicz and a fourth pitch that could have also easily been called a ball.

And then finally on the fifth offering of the count, Hood drew his first walk of the season.

“Today they threw me five straight balls, one of them called a strike, and I got my walk,” Hood said.

While Hood trotted down to first base, a serious of cheers erupted from inside the Mat-Su dugout.

“People have been giving me a hard time about it,” Hood said.

Mat-Su head coach Conor Bird said nobody on the team knew about the bizarre statistic until he mentioned it a couple weeks ago, and since it’s just something the Miners coaches been working on with the talented young hitter.

“He’s been working hard on his approach,” Bird said. “He’s got a great swing, he’s a great hitter.”

Hood said he certainly can be tabbed as an aggressive hitter, and while he’s working on his patience at the plate, he plans to use his aggression to his advantage.

“I’m going to continue to be an aggressive hitter, and if I get walked, I get walked,” Hood said.

Hood did walk a bit more regularly during his sophomore season at NIU. He drew 16 walks, good enough for third on his team. He was also hit by pitches 11 times, which helped Hood post a .394 on bases percentage, which also ranked him third on his squad.

“Back home using metal bats, I see a lot more curve balls so I lay off more pitches,” Hood said. “I get more walks back home than I do here.”

Hood also hit .321 as a sophomore, and was second on his team in batting average. And he led the Huskies with 43 RBI.

This summer Hood is among team leaders in hits (24) and runs (16), all while adjusting to a new position with the Miners.

An infielder in the past, Hood has made the move to the outfield and is having success.

“He’s figuring things out in left field,” Bird said. “It’s a natural position for him.”

Bird said Hood’s speed is also impressing him as of late. Hood swiped three bags during the win over AIA, and is now 6-for-7 in stolen bases this season.

“He showed today he can run,” Bird said.

Hood, who played second base as a freshman and third as a sophomore, is hoping to stay in the outfield for the college season.

“I’m loving it,” Hood said. “I think I’ve adjusted pretty well.”

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.