Indiana University Athletics
Healthy Again, Sowers’ Return Could Bode Well For IU
4/7/2016 5:38:00 PM | Baseball
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Since Logan Sowers returned to Indiana's lineup March 23 against Butler after missing 11 games with a wrist injury, IU is 5-4 overall. Look a little deeper into his statistics and there's signs of a few noteworthy trends developing.
The Hoosiers are 4-0 since Sowers' return when he scores a run. When the sophomore outfielder reaches base at least twice, Indiana is 3-1. When he leaves the yard, his team is 2-0.
The numbers aren't exactly flawless and the sample size is too small to put any real stock into, but Indiana head coach Chris Lemonis has already gone out of his way to remind Sowers what happens when he's producing in the middle of the order.
"I told him, I said, 'Man, when you hit we win. I wish you hit a little bit more,'" Lemonis said. "He's hit a lot. He's been good. He's feeling good right now."
Sowers' second season in Bloomington got off to a less-than-ideal start.
He missed the better part of month after bruising his wrist the second weekend of the season on the road against Cal State Fullerton. The pesky injury was just enough to take keep him from swinging a bat the way he normally would and kept him on the bench during games.
It was a sudden and drastic change for Sowers, who started every game his freshman season. As Indiana's active home run leader, his absence took one of the most reliable bats out of a young lineup that was in desperate need of production.
"The injury for him, that was part of our real, real slow start," Lemonis said. "He's one of the better physically looking guys in the box in the country, and the presence and stuff of having him back has helped out."
Back again, Sowers said this week that he's ready to go the remainder of the season as planned.
"Overall, my body feels good," he said. "I feel good at the plate."
Sowers—who's five home runs are tied for the team lead with senior Brian Wilhite—said his timing at the plate suffered the most from his time being away. Despite being as active as he could with the team while he couldn't play, there was no way to simulate trying to keep up with an opposing pitcher throwing 90 MPH.
With each passing at-bat, the timing became increasingly locked in. Two weeks into his return, Sowers is nearly where he was at the start of the season.
"I was talking to coach Lemo and he said with hands guys, it always affects your timing a little bit because you really can't do anything in that time that you're off with your hands," Sowers said. "So the timing probably affected a little bit, but I think I'm getting that all back now. I feel ready to go."
Junior closer Jake Kelzer, who's thrown against Sowers in practice plenty of times, said Sowers' return means Indiana gets one of its best players back in terms of bat presence. Kelzer said when Sowers steps into the box, he doesn't let the game situation impact the way he approaches the plate.
"He doesn't let the game or the at-bat get too big on him," Kelzer said. "He's more focused on that pitch and what he has to do for that pitch, so I think that's why he's so good."
Should the early trends continue, Sowers' production could bode well for Indiana's record.
Now beginning to hit the bulk of the Big Ten schedule, IU (14-13, 1-2) doesn't have much time to waste if it wants to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament with an upper-half seed and make a case for a return to the NCAA Tournament.
"I'm looking forward to him getting on a streak," Lemonis said, smiling.
The Hoosiers could use it.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Since Logan Sowers returned to Indiana's lineup March 23 against Butler after missing 11 games with a wrist injury, IU is 5-4 overall. Look a little deeper into his statistics and there's signs of a few noteworthy trends developing.
The Hoosiers are 4-0 since Sowers' return when he scores a run. When the sophomore outfielder reaches base at least twice, Indiana is 3-1. When he leaves the yard, his team is 2-0.
The numbers aren't exactly flawless and the sample size is too small to put any real stock into, but Indiana head coach Chris Lemonis has already gone out of his way to remind Sowers what happens when he's producing in the middle of the order.
"I told him, I said, 'Man, when you hit we win. I wish you hit a little bit more,'" Lemonis said. "He's hit a lot. He's been good. He's feeling good right now."
Sowers' second season in Bloomington got off to a less-than-ideal start.
He missed the better part of month after bruising his wrist the second weekend of the season on the road against Cal State Fullerton. The pesky injury was just enough to take keep him from swinging a bat the way he normally would and kept him on the bench during games.
It was a sudden and drastic change for Sowers, who started every game his freshman season. As Indiana's active home run leader, his absence took one of the most reliable bats out of a young lineup that was in desperate need of production.
"The injury for him, that was part of our real, real slow start," Lemonis said. "He's one of the better physically looking guys in the box in the country, and the presence and stuff of having him back has helped out."
Back again, Sowers said this week that he's ready to go the remainder of the season as planned.
"Overall, my body feels good," he said. "I feel good at the plate."
Sowers—who's five home runs are tied for the team lead with senior Brian Wilhite—said his timing at the plate suffered the most from his time being away. Despite being as active as he could with the team while he couldn't play, there was no way to simulate trying to keep up with an opposing pitcher throwing 90 MPH.
With each passing at-bat, the timing became increasingly locked in. Two weeks into his return, Sowers is nearly where he was at the start of the season.
"I was talking to coach Lemo and he said with hands guys, it always affects your timing a little bit because you really can't do anything in that time that you're off with your hands," Sowers said. "So the timing probably affected a little bit, but I think I'm getting that all back now. I feel ready to go."
Junior closer Jake Kelzer, who's thrown against Sowers in practice plenty of times, said Sowers' return means Indiana gets one of its best players back in terms of bat presence. Kelzer said when Sowers steps into the box, he doesn't let the game situation impact the way he approaches the plate.
"He doesn't let the game or the at-bat get too big on him," Kelzer said. "He's more focused on that pitch and what he has to do for that pitch, so I think that's why he's so good."
Should the early trends continue, Sowers' production could bode well for Indiana's record.
Now beginning to hit the bulk of the Big Ten schedule, IU (14-13, 1-2) doesn't have much time to waste if it wants to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament with an upper-half seed and make a case for a return to the NCAA Tournament.
"I'm looking forward to him getting on a streak," Lemonis said, smiling.
The Hoosiers could use it.
Players Mentioned
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Jacksonville Baseball Classic - UCF Press Conference
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Jacksonville Baseball Classic - LSU Press Conference
Friday, February 20
Big Ten Tournament Press Conference - vs. Rutgers
Wednesday, May 21