Derek McCallum, hats off to thee

by GopherNation on Apr 23, 2009 10:00 AM CDT

This may be several days too late but I think Gopher SS 2B, Derek McCallum deserves some recognition from TDG. McCallum was the Big Ten Player of the week, was also named the Collegiate Baseball Magazine National Player of the Week and is certainly on a short list of players who could be Big Ten Player of the Year. His stats for five games last week were as follows (this link should work for game-by-game stats)...

.636 batting avg (14/22)
9 runs
6 HRs
20 RBIs
1.636 slugging %

That is a pretty impressive week, the only thing that would have made it better would have been a series win over Illinois rather than losing two of three.

McCallum had been hot for much longer than just the previous week as he carried a 20 game hit streak into yesterday's NDSU game. Unfortunately he went 0-3 with a walk and a run scored to end his hit streak. The streak is over but take a look at McCallum's season stats to date...

1st in Big Ten batting avg - .404
1st in runs scored - 42
1st in RBIs - 52
4th in HRs - 10
3rd in slugging % - .709
3rd in triples - 3
8th in defensive assists

You can watch McCallum this weekend as the Gophers host Purdue at the Dome and Friday's game will be televised on the Big Ten Network. The Gophers are trailing Ohio State by 1.5 games in the Big Ten standings and will look to get back to the top with a sweep of Purdue!

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Gopher Baseball

McCallum is also under-rated defensively. He is an AMAZING 2nd Baseman who gets to balls that most 2nd basemen can’t get to. If you’re a baseball fan at all you definitely should come to the dome this weekend to watch good baseball. Park for free behind the dome by player’s entrance, tickets are cheap, pick any seat you want in the dome, bring kids (if you have them), they can chase foul balls or play with Goldy, and enjoy watching local kids play great ball. GO GOPHERS !!!!!!!!!!

by go4z on Apr 23, 2009 8:35 PM CDT reply actions

absolutely get out and watch some Gopher baseball this weekend

it is going to be rainy so head to the dome.

Also, I’m pretty sure McCallum is playing SS this year. He played 2B last year but SS is supposedly his “natural position.”

what you say here can, and will, be used against you

by GopherNation on Apr 24, 2009 8:38 AM CDT up reply actions

McCallum

Two years ago, McCallum was a wiry middle infielder. Now, he seems to be a legit power threat. What, I wonder, does this do to his status for this summer’s draft?

With Decker’s average back over .300, do the Gophers have a decent shot at getting out of a regional this year?

by twinsfan21 on Apr 24, 2009 12:14 AM CDT reply actions

getting out of a regional may be tough

although don’t the top 2 from each region advance? If that is the case I think we have an excellent shot.

what you say here can, and will, be used against you

by GopherNation on Apr 24, 2009 8:39 AM CDT up reply actions

McCallum plays 2nd - played SS last year - go watch him play

He has a realistic shot at going in the 5-7 round range. Great glove and obviously a solid hitter. The Gophers probably lose 2-3 guys to the draft this year. Next year they have a chance of losing 5-6 guys. They need to make a good run this year and next ! GO GOPHERS !

by go4z on Apr 24, 2009 2:42 PM CDT reply actions