Player: Zach Jacob
Position: Second baseman
Year: Senior
School: Dayton
Bad things happen in threes?! Not on this list. We’ve now approached our third player who has just one season of Division I baseball under his belt, transferring in from junior college. As with Elkins, and Cate, the one season Dayton second baseman Zach Jacob finished with, is enough to justify his spot on this list.
Name one coach who would not want a reliable glove at second base, speed, and a power producing bat? We won’t hold our breath as we wait.
At 6’2, 200, Zach Jacob has a frame that you can expect power from. At said height and weight one wouldn’t expect Jacob to be as fleet of foot, nimble, and a strong up the middle second-baseman. With measurements more of a corner infielder, for Jacob to bring what he does to the middle up the Flyers line-up while being stout up the middle headlines a list of reasons why he appears on this list.
Of course it doesn’t help to have a performance to match the measurables.
After two seasons at San Joaquin Delta College where Jacob started 74 games during his underclassmen years, the right-handed hitting Jacob collected a career average over .300, while driving in 45 runs.
In his first season at the Division I level Jacob eclipsed both marks, providing a strong bat in the heart of the lineup for Coach Tony Vittorio as the Flyers captured their first Atlantic-10 championship. In the process of doing so, Jacob appeared the top of numerous A-10 offensive categories.
In starting 55 of Dayton’s 57 games, all at second, Jacob went to bat 232 times officially, collecting a team high 79 hits on the season for a .354 average. Of the 79 hits, which was second in the A-10, 26 were of extra-bases finishing with 13 doubles, two triples and 11 home runs.
In total Jacob slugged .578 while tallying 129 total bases. The 129 total bases touched was eighth best. The 56 runs scored also was second-most in the A-10 trailing teammate Jacob Spaeth’s 58. In his DI rookie season, the second baseman drove in 50 runs, third best in the offensive-laden Flyer lineup.
Given his inexperience on the DI level, as well as being a solid power-hitter, an area where you might expect Jacob to struggle would be strikeouts. In total Jacob would sit down 41 times via strikeouts, a mark that led Dayton. However with 18 base on balls and another 17 walks courtesy a hit by pitch, an on-base percentage of .432 would give Jacob an OPS of 1.010, a mark very uncommon amongst second baseman.
With eight successful steals in 10 tries on the bases, Jacob possess enough speed to be a threat on the bases if attention is not paid to.
In the field 11 errors were commited in 263 chances for a .958 fielding percentage. A number that is more than serviceable up the middle.
When you combine the elements of Jacob’s game; a consistent bat with power, solid speed, and fielding, one should not be surprised to his Jacob listed among Ohio’s best. Showing all of those abilities in just one season make’s Jacob a special athlete. As Dayton looks to defend their A-10 title, Jacob will be a driving force in doing so, producing in an all-conference way.
Filed under: Division I
