In our next installment of the Valley League record book (since 2004), we have on-base percentage.
This list has been destroyed this year, not unlike the way the power numbers were radically changed during the 2o12 season. Three players clocked in with an OBP over .500, with two of the three recording one of the top three OBPs since 2004.
This is what it looks like:
| 1 | Nick Sinay | Front Royal | 2014 | 0.534 |
| 2 | Jordan Tarsovich | Strasburg | 2013 | 0.522 |
| 3 | Cole Gruber | Waynesboro | 2014 | 0.518 |
| 4 | Luke Greinke | Winchester | 2007 | 0.517 |
| 5 | Ryan Sullivan | Covington | 2012 | 0.516 |
| Blake Sipe | Staunton | 2012 | 0.516 | |
| 7 | Mike Schwartz | Harrisonburg | 2009 | 0.508 |
| 8 | Mike Marcinko | Waynesboro | 2014 | 0.502 |
| 9 | Tyler Townsend | Winchester | 2008 | 0.500 |
| 10 | Jason Kipnis | Covington | 2007 | 0.498 |
So, Front Royal’s Nick Sinay has taken over the top spot by a huge margin, with Waynesboro’s Cole Gruber coming in 3rd, and Mike Marcinko coming in 8th.
Interestingly, this list is not as full of pro players like the batting average list. Sinay, Gruber, and Marcinko, along with Jordan Tarsovich, Ryan Sullivan, and Blake Sipe, still have college eligibility left. Greinke played in pro ball, but as a pitcher (and briefly, at that). Schwartz got a small taste of affiliated pro ball, and has been in the Frontier League the last number of seasons (he was actually the All-Star game MVP in 2014). Townsend was a high draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles, but just couldn’t stay healthy, and has since retired.
Kipnis is the star of this list, of course. Mostly the starting second baseman for the Cleveland Indians, Jason has carved a space in the major leagues for himself.
So there you have it- the best OBPs in the last 11 seasons!