The
Elmira Pioneers might be as talented as any club in the PGCBL this
season. Through ten games the club sits at 5-5, tied for first in the
league’s West Division. Players have yet to really show who they
are, but the early looks at Elmira first baseman Ryan Plantier are
very promising.
Plantier
blasted his first home run of the season on Wednesday night, and he’s
starting to find himself at the plate.
His
numbers early this season don’t immediately jump out at you; he’s
hit a solid .263 through ten games. If you take a closer look,
however, you’ll notice that Plantier has reached base at least once
in every game this season, and is near the top of the league in
walks, with nine. He’s displayed a patient approach at the plate,
and it looks like his excellent batting practice power is starting to
find its way into games.
“I
think my walks are a result of choosing good pitches to swing at and
having a better two-strike approach,” Plantier said.
Elmira
Head Coach Matt Burch had good things to say about Plantier.
“He’s
doing very well. He’s a patient hitter…he looks pretty
comfortable defensively as a first baseman. He’s just a good
baseball player.”
Plantier’s
natural ability could be genetic. His father, Phil Plantier, played
in parts of eight MLB seasons. In 1993, his only season as an
everyday player in the majors, the elder Plantier crushed 34 home
runs and drove in 100 batters for the San Diego Padres.
Professional
baseball has obviously had an influence on Ryan, and it will continue
to impact him going forward. Prior to becoming the Pioneers’
skipper, Burch played seven years in the minor leagues. When asked
about whether or not Plantier could follow in his father’s
footsteps, Burch was optimistic. “Absolutely,” he said.
“I
tell these guys —and I believe this of a lot of players in this
league—‘If you have a uniform on, you have an opportunity to play
in the big leagues.”
Ryan’s
baseball career has yet to take him to the levels that his father or
Burch reached, but he’s still got a uniform on, and he just
finished his junior year at Cornell, where he also displayed a
patient approach and impressive raw power. Plantier struggled at the
plate at times during his first season as the Big Red’s starting
first baseman, but it looks like he’s starting to turn his tools
into game skills.
Over
his past six games in the PGCBL, Plantier is hitting .304 and getting
on base at a .467 clip. After slugging his first home run of the
season, Plantier will look to keep his hot bat as he enters his
senior year.