A check of Jared Sullivan's uniform on Wednesday night revealed no baseball-attracting magnets. It just seems that way.
The North Dakota State senior has made an art out of being hit by a pitch. His No. 1 tip: don't flinch.
"I have an open stance and I stand pretty close to the plate," Sullivan said. "And I stride into the ball, so there's nowhere for it to go."
He was beaned twice on Wednesday night against the University of Minnesota, bringing his season total to 21. If NDSU were counted in official Division I statistics - the Bison don't because they are a reclassifying team - Sullivan would lead the nation.
Sullivan's feat is no fluke. He's been mastering the craft for years. He led all junior college players in 2004 by getting hit 29 times.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I'm pretty numb in my arm, it doesn't even hurt anymore," Sullivan said with a smirk.
It hasn't all been painless. His college career - which has included stops in California, Texas and North Dakota - has been smattered with injuries.
He missed most of his freshman season at Riverside Community College (Calif.) after getting hit in the face. He was squaring around to bunt when he was left flat-footed by a pitch.
He didn't get gun-shy the next year at Northeast Texas Community College. While most batters avoid inside pitches at all costs, Sullivan practically watches the ball hit his uniform.
"He doesn't back away from pitchers," NDSU head coach Mitch McLeod said. "He just stands there. He's a tough kid."
His reaction to the twobeanballs by Gopher pitchers was the same. Lay down the bat.
Don't show any emotion. Don't give any hint that the pitch hurt and jog to first base.
There's more to his game than that, however. He leads the team in hitting with a .336 average. His three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Gophers was the clincher in a 7-3 win.
ADVERTISEMENT
He's also one of the team's best pitchers, although he hasn't had a chance to show it because of bone spurs in his elbow that sidelined him most of last season.
Sullivan got to NDSU through a story in Baseball America magazine about the Bison going to Division I. Shunned by recruiters despite hitting .336 as a sophomore at Northeast Texas and wanting to play a Division I schedule, he gave NDSU a call.
"I wanted to prove myself to all those guys who didn't give me a shot out of junior college," he said
He's proving it as NDSU's leading hitter. And the country's leading hit batsman.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack at (701) 241-5546
