PAGE 10
THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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REN BRODSKY/KANSAN
Sophomore pitcher Sean Rackoski passes the ball to Blair Beck at first base Wednesday evening at Hoglund Ballpark. The Jayhawks lost to Missouri State 3-0.
Tinsley doing it all for Jayhawks' baseball
KYLAN WHITMER
@KRWhitmer
Kansas baseball is loaded with veteran offensive talent and it shows, as it currently ranks at the top of the Big 12 when it comes to offensive statistics. However, sophomore Michael Tinsley stands out of the pack.
The catcher has made a major impact on the team's season after filling in for the starting role left open in the offseason with the departure of Second Team All-Big 12 catcher Ka'iana Eldredge.
"I really did expect him to make this type of impact," coach Ritch Price said. "I thought he was an outstanding prospect the first time I saw him."
Tinsley currently leads Kansas with a batting average of .351. 30 RBIs and 13 doubles.
While he holds leads when it comes to his team's batting, he owns a more impressive statistic of being ranked among the top 10 in seven offensive categories in the Big 12.
Tinsley currently sits at fifth
in the conference when it comes to his batting average. He also ranks eighth in the conference with 47 hits and third in doubles. The sophomore has been a great teammate to his fellow base runners this season, as he is just one RBI away from first place in the Big 12 in the category. He has been stellar at getting on base, ranking seventh with a .421 percentage.
While he gets on base often, he does so while hitting with power. Tinsley ranks ninth in the conference when it comes to slugging percentage, hitting a .496 on the year.
Tinsley was unaware he held such rankings, appearing to have the mindset of simply wanting to win games.
"I just saw myself earning my spot," Tinsley said. "In the fall, Skip [Price] told me I'd be batting third or fourth, and I just took that as a great compliment."
During Wednesday's game against Missouri State, Tinsley honed his hitting ability to prevent a no-hitter against his team, snapping it with a single up the middle.
"He can hit velocity, and that's why he's such a good division I player," Price said. "There's a lot of guys who can hit 86 to 88 [mph] that can't hit 94 to 95. He's got that special ability to be on time with the fastball."
Tinsley has shined in the batter's box, but he is also an asset behind the plate. He considers himself an offensive catcher, but he has been a brick wall this season while pitching has struggled. On Wednesday, he showed how he can positively affect the Jayhawk pitches.
After Sean Rackoski gave up a three-RBI single to allow Missouri State to take a 3-0 lead, Tinsley approached the mound to talk with his teammate and calm him down. The opponent did not score a run for the remainder of the game.
The Jayhawks will continue Big 12 play this Friday against Texas, where Michael "Top" Tensley will look to continue his dominant hitting to rise even further in the league's ranks.
Edited by Callie Byrnes
BEN BRODSKY/KANSAN
Junior second baseman Colby Wright makes contact with the ball while up at bat Wednesday evening against Missouri State. The Jayhawks lost 0-3 at Hoglund Ballpark.
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