Photo- Virginia Tech Baseball
Before we go any further, let’s take a minute to revel in the fact that we’re now in the single digits. When the countdown started several months ago, this point in the countdown seemed so far away, and yet here we are. The first pitch of the 2016 season is just around the corner.
Today on the countdown, we’re talking about veteran Virginia Tech table-setter Saige Jenco.
During his VT career, Jenco has been nothing short of a disruptor at the top of the Hokies’ order. After redshirting in 2013, he exploded onto the scene in 2014 and hit .323 with a .449 on-base percentage, a 23/40 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and 20 stolen bases. As a redshirt sophomore in 2015, he was even better in many respects. He hit .330/.394/.466 with 13 doubles, three triples, three home runs, and 27 RBI. Those numbers in the latter season were enough for him to be named to the All-ACC Third Team.
At the end of the season, he was drafted in the 27th round by the Boston Red Sox, but rather than head off into pro ball, he decided to return to Blacksburg for at least one more season.
That’s great news for head coach Pat Mason and staff, because they lost a handful of other longtime offensive contributors in the likes of Brendon Hayden, Alex Perez, and Sean Keselica, along with Erik Payne, who led the team in hitting at .343 in his one season on campus. Simply put, they’ll need Jenco to have a big season as he serves as the cornerstone of a rebuilt offense with plenty of new faces.
If he can put together another season at the same level or even better than his first two, he won’t have to wait long to get his next chance at pro ball, either. With his hit tool, his athleticism, and his proven track record in the ACC, there will be plenty of interest whenever he is ready to head to the next level.
