New feature that we are adding to the arsenal on the website. Every month we are going to pick one athlete to single out for his individual achievements recently. The Player of the Week awards released by the NESCAC are great, and we wanted to put our own spin on it. By making it a month long deal, we can take a larger sample size. First up is Centerfielder Joe Jensen ’15 from Hamilton.
In March, Jensen has elevated his already exceptional play to yet another level. He was in the top three in the NESCAC in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage at the end of the month. His OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) was 1.362. Probably his most impressive statistic was his .525 batting average. Of course, a slugging percentage of .775 and on-base percentage of .587 aren’t bad either. He has been held hitless in only one game so far this season. Jensen was at his hottest during a five-game stretch to open the season from March 16-19 when he had multiple hits in all six games.
For comparison’s sake, Barry Bonds had the finest hitting season we could ever see in 2004 for the Major Leagues. He finished the year with a .609 OBP and .812 SLG percentage. Those are unfreaking real numbers for the Majors, steroids or no steroids. They aren’t as impressive in the NESCAC, but still pretty damn good. Also just to make it clear, I’m not accusing Jensen of being on steroids by comparing him to Bonds.
Still, he is a lot stronger than he was a year ago. Jensen is hitting for power with six extra base hits so far after hitting only three all of 2014. He also hit his first career home run in the opening game of the year for the Continentals.
All of those hitting statistics do not take into account Jensen’s All-American track speed. He has nine stolen bases and has been caught only once so far, despite everybody this side of the Mississippi knowing he is likely to steal as soon as he gets on first base. Jensen has been on first base with the opportunity to swipe second (i.e. nobody in front of him) 17 times this season and has attempted 10 steals in those situations, taking nine bags. That’s a ridiculous 58.8 percent attempt rate and 90 percent success rate. Jensen actually has three errors and no assists so his fielding has not been flawless, but we are sure he is tracking down plenty of balls in the gap that don’t show up in the box score.
The Top Ranked Division-III draft prospect according to Baseball America, Jensen is unlikely to hit above .500 for the year, and he is actually already below that mark after going 1-5 on Wednesday, April 1. Still, he is putting a spectacular exclamation on a career that has seen him go from a freshmen year where he hit .170 to now. His story is an unusual one, and it is far from over. Congrats Joe!