One of the stats I look at while compiling these lists is BB/K ratio- controlling the strike zone is an important aspect of good hitting. Well, Charlottesville’s Pierce Bennett was almost off the charts in this category, making him an easy choice for the top hitters list.
Overall, Bennett, from Wake Forest, hit .322/.456/.471 in 87 at-bats, with 24 runs scored, 11 RBIs, eight doubles, one triple, one home run, and nine stolen bases. The kicker is that he walked 18 times and struck out only three times. He spaced them out, too; he struck out one time each on June 12, July 7, and July 21. He struck out once every 29 at-bats! He also finished fifth in the league in on-base percentage, and tied for seventh in in doubles.
He was the July 10th hitter of the day, after going 5-8 in Charlottesville’s doubleheader at New Market, along with four runs scored, two doubles, two RBIs, and two hit-by-pitches.
A sophomore at Wake, Bennett went 1-4 in 2020, but then, in 132 at-bats in 2021, hit .212/.307/.288, with 25 runs, five doubles, one triple, one home run, 13 RBIs, and 17/26 BB/K. Watch for these numbers to take a big jump in 2022!
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