Jayce Tharnish recorded his fourth multi-hit performance of the summer on Saturday as the Y-D Red Sox lost 7-4 to the Chatham Anglers.
Tharnish broke out during his junior year at St. Bonaventure University, posting a .461 on-base percentage. He tallied 21 extra-base hits and recorded a .597 slugging percentage. He also drew 17 walks and drove in 29 runs. The outfielder has carried that success into his time with Y-D, contributing in all facets of the game.
He led off the bottom of the first inning with a single, jumping on the first pitch of the at-bat. Tharnish then stole second base and came all the way around to score on a pair of throwing errors.
His speed has been a consistent asset this season, with four stolen bases in just 14 games. Whether it's in the field or on the basepaths, his above-average speed plays a role in every part of his game. He swiped 32 bases during his junior year, so leveraging his speed is nothing new.
“I think it’s a big part of my game, especially on ground balls in the infield,” Tharnish said. “There’s been a bunch of times where I won’t barrell a ball and will end up beating it out, which is definitely huge in big circumstances with runners on. I can try to get on base and continue the game. That’s the goal with speed, and I feel like it’s a big tool.”
It was a similar story in the next frame, as he stayed aggressive and singled on the first pitch of the at-bat. Tharnish has always favored an aggressive approach at the plate, and it's been paying off recently.
“During my college career as well, I was a heavy first-pitch swinger,” Tharnish said when asked about his aggressive tendencies at the plate. “It’s a blessing and a curse. I go up there ready to hit the first pitch, and if it’s in the zone, I’m going to take a hack at it.”
Y-D entered the bottom of the ninth down by three runs, needing a big rally to tie the game and close out their final regular-season matchup at Red Wilson Field with a win. In a shocking development, Tharnish once again attacked the first pitch—this time driving it to left field for a double with a 101 mph exit velocity.
His three-hit performance raised his season average to .300 with a .727 OPS. As Y-D heads into the playoffs on Tuesday, Tharnish will look to remain a steady presence at the top of the lineup.
