The 2019 Valley League’s 11th best hitter, rising UNC-Greensboro junior Josh Madole, will give a good at-bat every time up.
Controlling the strike zone as well as almost anyone this summer, Madole hit the following in in a four-game cameo in 2018 and 40 games in 2019:
VBL | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | K | SB | CS | Avg | OBP | SLG |
2018 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.222 | 0.500 | 0.333 |
2019 | 40 | 140 | 22 | 50 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 27 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0.357 | 0.453 | 0.443 |
Madole finished sixth in the league in batting average, tied for seventh in on-base percentage, tied for third in walks, tied for tenth in doubles, and tied for third in hits. He was an All-Star and attended the Prospect Showcase. He had his best game on June 18, against Winchester, when he went 3-5, with a run, double, and three RBIs. He had a total of 18 games with at least 2 hits.
He has seen consistent playing time in his first two years for the Spartans, and walked almost as many times as he struck out:
G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | K | SB | CS | Avg | OBP | SLG | |
2018 | 54 | 183 | 35 | 48 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 28 | 33 | 2 | 2 | 0.262 | 0.372 | 0.328 |
2019 | 54 | 201 | 28 | 58 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 6 | 2 | 0.289 | 0.391 | 0.333 |
He was also named to the SoCon Academic Honor Roll in 2018-19.
Watch for a uptick in those numbers in the spring of 2020! (And perhaps a return to the Valley League next summer, too)