The RoundHouse | 5/2/2019 4:22:00 PM
Luke Ritter and
Jordan Boyer compare bruises. They laugh about their tendency to take pitches off their shoulder, elbow and thighs. They know opposing coaches know.
In general, however, they don't put much thought into how and why they are among Wichita State's best at enduring a bit of pain to get on base.
"I don't know why I get hit so much," Boyer said. "I do get hit a lot, though."
Yes, they do. They rank first and second in the American Athletic Conference in hit by pitch.
The conversation ends there, for all practical purposes. There is not much strategy in serving as a target.
"No idea." Ritter said.
Ritter ranks third on Wichita State's career list, hit by a pitch 33 times in his 206 games. Three more put him in second place. Boyer, a senior shortstop, is tied for 10th with 22 in 159 games. He can move into the top five with two more plunkings.
On the season list, Ritter, a senior second baseman, is tied for 11
thwith 13. Boyer is tied for 12
thwith his 12.
This all seems significant, especially when Ritter trails only Tyler Grimes (51 from 2009-11) and Casey Blake (35 from 1993-96) on the career list. Boyer is chasing Matt Patrick (1994-98), Jeff Ryan (1996-99) and Andy Dirks (2007-08), all tied for sixth with 23.
"We just laugh about it," Boyer said. "It happens all the time."
Those are some big names in Shocker history. This, however, is not a topic Ritter and Boyer contemplate much beyond happily trotting toward first base.
Hitters are not allowed to "make an intentional movement to be hit by a pitch, regardless of where the pitch is located." The umpire can penalize the hitter with a strike in that case. However, NCAA rules say "Freezing' by a batter is not considered making an intentional movement. A batter who freezes inside the batter's box and who is hit by a pitch shall be awarded first base."
Career hit by pitch leaders
| 1. Tyler Grimes (2009-11) |
51 |
| 2. Casey Blake (1993-96) |
35 |
| 3. Luke Ritter (2016-present) |
33 |
| 4. Randy Walter (2000-02) |
26 |
| 5. Josh Workman (2005-08) |
25 |
| 6. Chase Rader (2015-16) |
24 |
| T7. Patrick (1994-98), Ryan (1996-99), Dirks (2007-08) |
23 |
"With two strikes, I don't want to get out of the way," Boyer said. "I'm happy when they hit me with two strikes, because then I get to go to first."
Ritter and Boyer are excellent right-handed hitters who started most of their careers. Ritter is hitting .341 with a team-leading eight home runs and 13 doubles. Boyer is hitting .348 with five home runs and 12 doubles.
That explains some of their productivity via the hit by pitch. Nationally, they're not quite as remarkable – a four-way tie at 22 leads NCAA Division I.
"Pitchers pitch them in," Shockers coach
Todd Butler said. "You have to go inside on them. Boyer will crowd the plate a little bit more than Ritter, and Boyer probably enjoys getting hit. Boyer, being leadoff, he's trying to get on base."
Ritter and Boyer, judging by their on-base success, are winning the battle for the inside part of the plate. Pitchers need to be able to pitch inside to disrupt timing and find holes in swings. Hitters need to control the inside part of the strike zone to force pitchers to throw to more favorable areas.
They both rank in the American's top 10 for batting average (Boyer eighth and Ritter ninth) and slugging percentage (Ritter No. 7 at .587; Boyer No. 9 at .561). Ritter ranks seventh in on-base percentage at .461.
Opposing coaches, Butler said, often ask about his HBP leaders.
"It is real estate and good pitchers will pitch to both sides of the plate, in and away," Butler said. "Good hitters are really good hitting the ball on the other side of the plate. You go in on good hitters, because most people are scared to pitch those hitters in because of their power."
Neither wears padding on their exposed areas. Neither worries too much about injury or admits to much lingering soreness.
"You get a little bruise, but then it goes away in a day or two," Ritter said. "Then you're fine. If they're good ones, we'll show each other."
Ritter took 10 hits as a junior on his way to batting .341. Boyer's previous high was six in 2017.
"I know I got hit a lot last year," Ritter said. "I just don't get out of the way, mostly."
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
