We began this countdown with freshman Kyle Watson, a player that can fill a variety of roles for the Rebel baseball team. Today we continue the countdown with another versatile player, one that can be a catcher, designated hitter, or clutch pinch hitter, Holt Perdzock.
The junior from Memphis has been a steady producer for the Rebels since arriving prior to the 2013 season. Last year, he worked his way into Ole Miss folklore with a bases-clearing ninth-inning double in the Super Regional elimination game against UL-Lafayette (featured above). He went on to go 1-1 with an RBI against both Texas Tech and Virginia in College World Series games.
Perdzock’s success is no surprise to those that followed his four years at Memphis University School. Not only did he letter all four years, he took the Owls to the State Championship Game three times. He had a career batting average of .431 with 85 RBI and 84 runs scored.
In his first year in Oxford, Perdzock started six games at catcher while appearing in 39. He hit .265 with four doubles and nine RBI. Perdzock saw a large jump from 2013 to 2014, batting .324 with 12 doubles and a triple last season.
Senior Austin Knight looks to be the odds-on starter at catcher on Opening Day, but Perdzock should see his fair share of starts behind the plate. When he isn’t catching he should split time with freshman Joe Wainhouse at designated hitter. As things stand right now, Wainhouse, a lefty, should find the lineup against right-handers, with Perdzock taking the games against lefties.
When he is not behind the plate or in the DH slot, Perdzock will serve as a valuable pinch-hitter off the bench. Coming into a game cold and having to make a key hit is much more difficult than it may seem which is why having a quality pinch hitter is a huge weapon in the arsenal. Along the same lines, if Knight needs to be pulled for a pinch-runner in a double-switch, Perdzock is more than capable in the battery and is nowhere near a liability when his spot in the order arises.
While this season’s team does not have the star-power of 2014, the depth of 2015’s can be just as successful. Perdzock’s role as a catcher, designated hitter and pinch hitter speaks to just that.
Recapping the list thus far:
18. Kyle Watson, INF
16. Wyatt Short, LHP
14. Connor Cloyd, OF
13. Holt Perdzock, C
Michael Quirk is a HottyToddy.com staff reporter and can be reached at michael.quirk@hottytoddy.com.
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