The number just leaps off the page, like a tabloid headline or a shocking photo.
It’s Evan Pimentel’s batting average after eight games.
Ready for the number? Here goes. It’s .852.
Say what? That has to be a misprint. .852? .852???
“I know, it’s crazy,” says the County Prep senior pitcher/outfielder. “I’ve never heard anything like it. It’s amazing.”
Pimentel’s head coach, Mike Zadroga Jr., wanted to keep it a secret, because he was sure that no one would believe that it was actually true.
“Do we have to print it?” Zadroga Jr. asked.
Well, sure we do. Especially with numbers like that. And it’s most definitely true. Pimentel has collected 23 hits in 27 at-bats in eight games, all wins for the Hurricanes. He has belted four homers, two of which have been grand slams. He has more than 20 RBI. This is a season for the record books in the making. There hasn’t been a Hudson County baseball player to reach that kind of a lofty batting average in more than 20 years – if ever.
“He batted better than .400 for us in each of his first three seasons,” Zadroga Jr. said. “But each year, he was injured. But Evan’s as tough as nails and managed to play through it.”
This is the first of Pimentel’s four seasons with the County Prep varsity baseball program that he is 100 percent healthy. In the past, he had to battle an assortment of ailments, like a bad shoulder, a broken rib, a pulled hamstring, a broken back.
Say what? A broken back? In baseball?
“I had a fractured spinal vertebra,” Pimentel explained. “I had a stress fracture in my back, but I did some other things like weight lifting and kick boxing and that made it worse. I thought my baseball season was over.”
Incredibly, Pimentel was able to play last season, but had to don a cumbersome brace in order to take the field. He also had to endure some intense rehabilitation sessions.
“I had to wear a brace for six months,” Pimentel said. “It was very tough to even move in it. It was hard plastic and it was hard to bend or rotate in it. It was hard to run and hard to swing. I was like about 70 percent.”
But by the end of the summer, Pimentel recovered and realized that he was going to have his best year ever in his senior year.
“I was feeling pretty good,” Pimentel said. “I also went to a few talent showcases and to Rutgers camp and did pretty well. It was the first time I was ever really healthy and it showed. It was a big key.”
Zadroga, Jr. knew that Pimentel was poised for a big senior year, because of his approach to the game.
“I have never had a kid who has worked as hard as he has,” Zadroga, Jr. said. “I always wondered what he could do if he was really healthy. I knew he was a good player. He’s just so dedicated to getting better, becoming a better hitter.”
Pimentel said that he has been taking extra batting practice and regularly hits off a tee.
“I can see the ball pretty well right now and I’ve been hitting it hard,” Pimentel said. “I also take a few swings in my room, right before I go to sleep. I see my reflection in my TV screen and I can see how I’m doing.”
It must be a successful approach, because no one can argue with the results. The ridiculous batting average of .852 proves that.
For good measure, Pimentel has also won two games on the mound for the undefeated Hurricanes, who appear to be a solid favorite to earn HCIAA Seglio honors next month.
For his efforts, Pimentel has been selected as The Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week for the past week.
“I’m pleasantly surprised with what he’s done,” Zadroga, Jr. said. “He’s made four outs this year, striking out twice and hitting two hard outs. After he struck out against McNair Academic, he hit a grand slam. It’s really been fun to watch.”
Zadroga put Pimentel in some great company.
“He’s the best player I’ve coached since Brian Ellerson,” said Zadroga Jr., who worked with his father, Mike Sr. when the two coached Ellerson, the former Hudson Reporter Player of the Year and Montreal Expos organizational player, at Hudson Catholic. “He just flat out hits. It doesn’t matter what the count is, what the situation is. He’s a natural with the ability to keep pushing himself.”
Pimentel has a younger brother, Ivan, a freshman, who is a teammate with the Hurricanes. Younger sister, Stephanie, is a dedicated fan who never misses a game.
“I think a lot of people knew that Evan could be this kind of player,” Zadroga said.
He’s also gaining a lot of attention. Schools like Rutgers and St. John’s have offered scholarship plans. The major league baseball scouts have paid a visit and shown interest.
“It just goes to show you that if you work hard and if you’re patient, anything can happen,” Pimentel said. “It’s been a lot of fun. We’ll see how the season plays out. I know it’s going to be hard to keep this going, but I’m going to do my best to at least try. My confidence has been building daily, so that helps. And the team is playing well and we’re on a roll. I just hope I can keep it up.”
If Pimentel continues to hit at a .852 clip, they might as well rename the school after him. It’s a number that certainly draws attention, much like pictures of Paris Hilton on Page 6. Only, this attention-grabber deserves the recognition he has received. – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.