Don’t expect Northwest Indiana Oilmen outfielder Nick Figus to strike out often during the 2018 Midwest Collegiate League season.
“I want to make more contact with the ball,” he said. “When I got behind in counts, I wasn’t making as good of contact as I should have. That’s thing I wanted to work on this summer. And so far, it’s worked out.”
It’s working out to the tune of a .538 batting average for Figus through the first five games, by far the best mark on the Oilmen.
Figus has seven hits in 13 at-bats, with one double, four runs and five walks. He has been one of the few bright spots for the Oilmen, who have just one win.
Figus’ hot streak continued in the Oilmen’s home opener Tuesday night.
After falling behind 1-2 in his first at-bat, Figus focused on making contact, getting enough of a high fastball for a bloop single into left field.
But this contact-heavy approach didn’t start this season. It goes back to Figus’ college season at Illinois Wesleyan.
“At first, it was a rough start,” Figus said. “But this new approach, it just worked for me. And I’ve developed it a little bit more in the past week.
“It’s good to see the different pitching here, to see what works and what doesn’t.”
After spending his first year of college at Division I Creighton, Figus transferred last year to Illinois Wesleyan and was named the team’s best newcomer. He batted .337, leading the Titans with 58 hits and three triples.
Oilmen manager Adam Enright said Figus’ approach has helped him avoid any outside distractions at the plate.
“It keeps his process simple,” Enright said. “When he’s just thinking about making contact, it takes away a lot of the things that hitters obsess about when things are going bad and keeps his mind clear at the plate.”
Figus is no stranger to the MCL, spending the 2017 season with the Bloomington Bobcats.
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Along with a shorter drive from his hometown of Frankfort, Ill., there was another part of the Oilmen organization that drew the Lincoln-Way North graduate to the team.
“The field,” he said, referring to Oil City Stadium. “And Enright’s a really good coach. I know he’s going to make me better for next year.”
And if Figus continues his torrid pace at the plate, he’ll have more opportunities to work on another one of his summer objectives.
“Stealing bases is a big thing I’d like to get going,” Figus said. “That’s one thing that (Enright) stressed: making us better base runners before we go back to our schools.”
Dave Melton is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.