Prior to the month of April, freshman R.J. Ybarra was only four of 16 from the plate and an afterthought in the ASU baseball lineup.
Fast forward a week and Ybarra is the reigning Pac-12 Player of the Week, racking up two game-winning hits and going 5-14 (.385) as the Sun Devils finished the week 4-1.
"He’s really been having some good at-bats, and he’s back in the rotation a little bit,” coach Tim Esmay said. “That’s the kid we recruited, and the last couple weeks, I’ve really seen some growth with him.”
Ybarra’s wonder week started Tuesday at Wichita State, where he hit the two-out, game-winning single in the ninth to knock off the Shockers 4-3.
Ybarra was the hero again last Friday night. In the 11th inning as a pinch hitter, he lined the walkoff single off Oregon redshirt junior left-hander Christian Jones, who hadn’t allowed a run up to that point.
Ybarra said he felt more comfortable in the pinch-hitter role than he had earlier in the season.
“Early in the year, when I pitch-hit and stuff, I over-thought the situation and let my nerves get the best of me,” Ybarra said.
Ybarra had two doubles, four RBI’s and two runs total in the week. Esmay said Ybarra’s contributions off the bench are much needed.
“He had to make some adjustments all freshmen have to do, and he’s doing that now, and now you’re seeing a pretty calm kid at the plate and pretty talented,” Esmay said.
Sunday struggles
Esmay went to junior pitcher Billy Young last Sunday versus Oregon looking for a spark but was again unsuccessful.
After Young only lasted two and one-third innings, Esmay said he doesn’t know where to turn to on Sundays, where the Sun Devils are 0-4 in Pac-12 play.
“We are chasing in the third inning,” Esmay said. “Different day, same script.”
Freshman Brett Lilek seems like the most viable option. But Esmay said Lilek had a setback in his recovery from arm soreness and that they are back to “square one” with him.
“It would be nice if we could get Lilek up and running," Esmay said. "That’s a huge bullet that we are missing.”
To Esmay, it’s gotten to the point where Sunday Pac-12 games could be the deciding factor in winning the conference championship.
Esmay also said freshman Ryan Burr has been considered in the Sunday role but will remain as the Sun Devil closer.
Notes
-Ybarra is the fourth Sun Devil to receive Pac-12 Player of the Week honors following redshirt sophomore outfielder Trever Allen, junior starter Trevor Williams and freshman starter Ryan Kellogg.
-The Sun Devils have the No. 11 RPI, according to Boydsworld.com.
-ASU is currently No. 1 in attendance in both the Pac-12 and the West Coast, averaging 2760 fans per game.
Reach the reporter at dsshapi1@asu.edu or follow on twitter @Danny__Shapiro
