Saige Jenco: The Next Virginia Tech Baseball Star

May 26, 2013; Durham, NC, USA; A fly ball falls between Virginia Tech Hokies outfielders Mark Zagunis (2) and Kyle Wernicki (4) against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the ACC baseball tournament at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Virginia Tech baseball had a very rough season in 2014 but there were signs that the future of the Hokies’ baseball team is fairly bright. In Patrick Mason’s first year as the Virginia Tech manager, a few players proved that they are going to have very good futures in Blacksburg while Mark Zagunis had a very strong season to earn himself a third round draft selection in the 2014 MLB Draft. There is one player that still will be in Blacksburg for at least two more season and has a bright future.

Saige Jenco is a player that you’ve probably seen me talk about a lot but that’s because this guy is a very good player. Jenco will be one of the top returning leadoff hitters in college baseball after hitting for .323 with an on-base percentage of .449. Jenco has proven to be a patient hitter and that is something that can’t be taught easily so the fact that he already has it should allow him to become one of college baseball’s top leadoff hitters.

However, Saige Jenco is more than just a great leadoff hitter but also a great table setter that can get himself in scoring position. Jenco had 20 stolen bases in 26 attempts and those numbers should only go up as he gains more experience over the next couple of seasons. Jenco did have a slight decline in his base stealing production in ACC play but as Jenco gaines experience, he will only become a better base stealer.

Saige Jenco also is a solid defensive center fielder with only 2 errors this past season and a fielding percentage of .988. The one part of Jenco’s game that is lacking is his slugging as he only had 1 home run and 5 doubles this past season. However, there are plenty of MLB teams who will take a center fielder who is a very good leadoff hitter, base stealer, and defensive player with center fielder not traditionally being a power hitting position. Jenco will be the next Hokies’ baseball star and will take Mark Zagunis’s spot as the Hokies’ best baseball player.