BY STEVE KRAH
Hunter Dobbins’ bat was scalding hot as Ball State University swept a three-game Mid-American Conference baseball series April 13-14 against Akron.
The righty-swinging junior catcher went 8-of-9 with four home runs, two doubles, 10 runs batted in and six runs scored and was named April 15 as the MAC Player of the Week.
“I changed some things and got my confidence back,” says Dobbins. “I just made things simple (with bat angle and position in the batter’s box) so I could see the ball longer.”
The 6-foot-1, 204-pounder has used his strength and bat speed to drive the ball.
As the Rich Maloney-coached BSU Cardinals (23-14, 10-8) head into a three-game MAC series April 19-21 at Western Michigan University, Dobbins has played in 37 games (35 starts) and is hitting .284 (33-of-116) with 12 homers, no triples, 10 doubles, 33 RBIs, 22 runs and a 1.055 OPS (.374 on-base percentage plus .681 slugging average).
A 2024 Buster Posey Award Nominee and the No. 1 MAC Prospect for the 2024 Major League Basebll Draft by D1Baseball.com, Dobbins the catcher has made 141 putouts with 14 assists, just one error in 156 total chances and a .994 fielding percentage. He has thrown out 5-of-13 runners trying to steal a base on him.
“My keys are to keep the ball in front of me at all times to limit free bases to other teams and control the pitching staff and control the running game as well,” says Dobbins, who began focusing on catching when he got to college. “Making sure I am healthy and getting a good amount of sleep helps me (excel at hitting and catching) at the same time.
“I’ve learned about stretching and recovery and I work out as much as possible. If my workouts are hard it’s that much easier during the game.”
Assistant Nick Caruso is charged with coaching first base and the Cardinals’ catchers. Alex Maloney works with hitters and outfielders and is the recruiting coordinator. Justin Wechsler is the pitching coach.
Dobbins played in 55 games (51 starts) was named to the 2023 MAC All-Defensive Team after making a league-best 258 putouts with 52 assists (31 in conference games), three errors, 460 total chances and a .993 fielding norm. He gunned down 25-of-56 stolen base attempts. He nailed 18 runners in MAC play.
In the batter’s box in 2023, Dobbins hit .209 with nine homers, one triple, four doubles, 29 RBIs, 31 runs and a .708 OPS (.313/.395).
A break of the hamate bone in his left (glove) hand occurred early in his freshmen season (2022), making Dobbins a designated hitter. In 29 games (27 starts), he hit .339 (38-of-112) with eight homers (including a three-run shot in his first game), two triples, four doubles, 26 RBIs, 29 runs and a 1.020 OPS (.395/.625).
The summer after high school graduation (2021), Dobbins played a little in the College Summer League at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. The summer of 2022 was largely about getting healthy from his broken hand.
Last summer, he went to Texas to hone his craft at Kova Sports Baseball Training Center in Alvarado and D-Bat Benbrook in Forth Worth and worked out daily at The Lab in Fort Worth.
“My swing wasn’t right,” says Dobbins. “I decided to re-tool everything and get back on-track.”
Dobbins, 21, says he is not certain he will play this summer or just attend draft workouts. The 2024 MLB Draft is July 14-16.
Dobbins was born in Indianapolis and grew up in Fishers, Ind. He played travel ball for the Indiana Nitro and Team Indiana and commuted to Fortville, Ind., to attend Mt. Vernon High School, where he graduated in 2021.
As a catcher/third baseman, Dobbins enjoyed a head-turning senior season. He hit .588 with 10 homers, 12 doubles, 39 RBIs and 22 runs while helping the Brad King-coached Marauders win their first regional title in 30 years. He was named a Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A all-state catcher and participated in the IHSBCA North/South All-Star Series in Evansville.
Hunter is the son of car dealer Brian Dobbins and realtor Shelly Bond.
A Marketing major at Ball State, Hunter sees himself going into real estate some day after his baseball career.
“I have a passion for selling houses and talking to people,” says Dobbins. “That’s what I want to do.”
Hunter’s siblings include two brothers (Brian Dobbins Jr., and Ryan Williams) and one sister (Breaunna Dobbins).
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