There’s one factor that goes by way of Bobby Whalen’s thoughts each time he steps on the sector.

“Win at any value.”

He carried that very same mentality into Indiana’s collection opener in opposition to Minnesota on Might 13, however Whalen’s day did not begin the best way he wished. An infield come out, a fly out to heart subject, a strikeout trying and a floor out to first base compiled his first 4 at-bats of the sport.

Whalen stated the Hoosiers misplaced their strategy at instances early within the sport, resulting in a four-run deficit heading into the underside of the eighth inning. However it was solely a matter of time till they received again to swinging at strikes and taking balls.

Matthew Ellis reduce the result in two runs with a double to the wall, and Whalen stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. He let the ball get deep and shot a line drive out to proper subject, permitting Ellis and Tyler Doanes to attain simply. 

“I’d say as much as today, that is the most important hit of my school profession for certain,” Whalen stated.

Whalen stood at first base, pumped his fist in direction of the bottom and launched his emotion in direction of the Indiana dugout, figuring out he simply tied the sport.

“I received my likelihood to make an influence on the sport, and I made it,” Whalen stated. “All of my emotion simply got here out.”

Freshman Josh Pyne adopted Whalen’s lead with a two-RBI single, and Reese Sharp shut down the Minnesota lineup within the ninth to finish an 8-6 Indiana victory. 

Whalen has taken an enormous step ahead in his third collegiate season after solely showing in eight video games for the Hoosiers final season and never taking part in in any respect as a freshman at Louisville. About halfway by way of the season, Indiana head coach Jeff Mercer moved Whalen to the leadoff spot, a job by which he has thrived.

Whalen’s team-high 68 hits provides him a .305 batting common with a .373 on-base proportion. In 52 video games, he is pushed in 33 runs with two residence runs. He trails freshman Carter Mathison by one for the group lead in runs scored, and Whalen’s 22 stolen bases are twice as many as another Hoosier.

Mercer stated Whalen acknowledges pitches very well on the plate, which interprets to few sings and misses, hardly ever chasing unhealthy pitches. With what Mercer known as a “flat swing,” Whalen is ready to shoot the ball the opposite method – like he did in his game-tying single in opposition to Minnesota – and switch round a fastball to the pole-side hole. 

“We simply felt assured with [Whalen] main the cost,” Mercer stated. “He’s carried out nice job. He will get out of the field effectively, will get down the road effectively.”

Mercer stated the latest emergence of Tyler Doanes and the return of Phillip Glasser from harm has additionally benefitted Whalen as a man who can drive in runs, too. Whalen batted third for Indiana at instances this season, and when Doanes and Glasser are producing on the backside of the order, Mercer is assured in Whalen to carry them residence. 

Within the Minnesota collection, Doanes and Glasser mixed to hit 9-for-20 with 4 walks and 9 runs scored. And as they turned the lineup over to the highest, Whalen drove in 5 runs of his personal. If you put all of this collectively, Mercer stated Whalen performs with a terrific identification on the high of the order.

“You understand [Whalen] goes to place the ball in play and compete,” Mercer stated.

Throughout Whalen’s breakout season, he is additionally been dedicated to changing into a greater heart fielder for the Hoosiers. Mercer in contrast Whalen to former Indiana centerfielder Grant Richardson, who was a first-team All-Huge Ten participant in 2021 and now performs within the New York Yankees group for the Single-A Tampa Tarpons. 

The largest similarity between Whalen and Richardson, in Mercer’s eyes, is the best way they take stay reads throughout batting apply. Mercer stated outfielders enhance most noticeably after they take each learn throughout batting apply critically.

And at instances, Whalen may even compete too arduous. 

“I’ve to inform Bobby to cease diving,” Mercer stated. “Like, ‘Cease diving. We don’t want you to dive in batting apply and get damage.’ 

That is as a result of Whalen solely performs at one pace. He is crashed into the outfield fence a number of instances this 12 months, and he is additionally give you just a few memorable catches. And most of all, he is been dependable. Beginning all 52 video games, Whalen has solely dedicated one error this season. 

“He’s fearless,” Mercer stated. “He’ll slam into the wall. He’s an superior participant.”

As Indiana prepares for its last common season collection at Iowa, the Hoosiers will fairly actually observe Whalen’s lead. One in all Mercer’s constant sayings this season has been “the usual is the usual,” and Whalen actually units the usual as Indiana’s leadoff hitter and fearless centerfielder.

“In case you don’t have the usual, then something is suitable,” Mercer stated. “If something is suitable, then you don’t have any thought the place you’re going.”

Whalen and the Hoosiers hope to select up one other collection victory this weekend and lock up a spot in subsequent week’s Huge Ten event. First pitch between the Hoosiers and Hawkeys is at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday.

“It’s a must to have a purpose in thoughts and a plan,” Mercer stated. “These guys did a terrific job setting the DNA and the tradition in this system in the correct course.”

Tales associated to Indiana baseball:

• ELLIS’ GRAND SLAM DEFEATS ILLINOIS STATE: The Hoosiers rallied for a seven-run eighth inning, defeating Illinois State on Tuesday of their last sport at Bart Kaufman Area this season. Matthew Ellis’ monstrous grand slam put Indiana on high, and Ryan Kraft struck out the aspect within the ninth. CLICK HERE
• BOTHWELL’S 7-INNING, NO-HIT GEM: Ty Bothwell entered the sport within the third inning in opposition to Minnesota on Saturday and went the gap, placing out eight and permitting zero hits. It was his longest outing of the season, one which was a product of trusting his fastball and his teammates. CLICK HERE
• HOOSIERS AND GOPHERS SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER: Indiana received 12-0 and misplaced 9-8 in its doubleheader with Minnesota on Sunday. Ty Bothwell tossed seven no-hit innings, and Carter Mathison prolonged his Indiana freshman residence run document to 16, preserving the Hoosiers on observe to make the Huge Ten event. CLICK HERE
• PYNE DELIVERS IN THE CLUTCH: Indiana trailed Minnesota 6-2 heading into the underside of the eighth, however a trio of two-rbi hits from Matthew Ellis, Bobby Whalen and Josh Pyne gave the Hoosiers an 8-6 win over Minnesota in sport one. CLICK HERE