The classic adage of working hard and learning from experience has driven MinnesotaâĂ„Ă´s junior Michael Kvasnicka to improve dramatically thus far in his career. Kvasnicka came to the Gophers as a highly touted prospect from Lakeville North High School where Baseball America Magazine named him one of the top 300 high school players in the nation. Although productive, KvasnickaâĂ„Ă´s first couple of seasons were overshadowed by strikeouts as he learned how to become a switch hitter. But with numerous hours of batting practice, he managed to refine his approach at the plate and has now emerged as the top offensive threat in the Minnesota lineup. âĂ„ĂşLast summer in the Northwoods League I went back to square one and the fundamentals of hitting,âĂ„Ăą Kvasnicka said. âĂ„ĂşI wanted to erase the scouting report on me, so I tried to learn how to stay inside the ball and drive it the other way, and itâĂ„Ă´s worked well so far.âĂ„Ăą Now 32 games into the 2010 season, Kvasnicka leads the team in home runs (five), doubles (12), RBIs (26), slugging percentage (.573) and walks (21). While walks may not be a big attention-getter, Kvasnicka takes pride in learning to be more patient at the plate. He came into this season averaging more than four strikeouts per walk but has almost completely reversed that statistic this season, taking 2.6 walks per strikeout. Kvasnicka led the Gophers in strikeouts in both his freshman and sophomore seasons averaging one strikeout per every 4.25 at-bats. Again, that number has taken a dramatic turn this season as Kvasnicka has averaged one strikeout per every 15.5 at-bats. âĂ„ĂşI donâĂ„Ă´t think work ethic has ever been a problem for Michael,âĂ„Ăą Minnesota head coach John Anderson said. âĂ„ĂşIf anything we had to tone him down and to try to teach him that less is sometimes more.âĂ„Ăą The Gophers lost several key leaders from last season including Derek McCallum , Matt Nohelty and Eric Decker . With their departure, Kvasnicka has tried to fill their role, both on and off the field. âĂ„ĂşHeâĂ„Ă´s a great teammate, he really knows his baseball,âĂ„Ăą Minnesota sophomore AJ Pettersen said. âĂ„ĂşHeâĂ„Ă´s always there to help with your swing or anything youâĂ„Ă´re working on. itâĂ„Ă´s really nice having him around.âĂ„Ăą Kvasnicka has gained a lot of credibility from his hard work and unselfish play. But he carries that same attitude into his schoolwork and into the community where he helps teach a weightlifting class to minority students. Kvasnicka comes from a baseball family and his father, Jay Kvasnicka, played for the Minnesota Twins AAA team after being drafted in the eighth round of the 1988 amateur draft. The son may soon be following in his fatherâĂ„Ă´s footsteps, as this will be his first year of draft eligibility since joining the Gophers. Barring any major injury, the question of Kvasnicka getting drafted will not be if, but when. If Kvasnicka decides to leave for the pros, he expressed that he would do so begrudgingly because he enjoys his current status and teammates. âĂ„ĂşIf it happens and I go play, then that will be another chapter in my life,âĂ„Ăą Kvasnicka said. âĂ„ĂşIt will be really exciting playing professional baseball and chasing my lifelong dream of playing in the major leagues. It doesnâĂ„Ă´t even matter what round or team I get drafted by, itâĂ„Ă´s all about the opportunity.âĂ„Ăą
Patience paying off for Gophers’ Kvasnicka
The junior slugger has decreased his strikeout total significantly in his third season.
Published April 13, 2010
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