2023 Legends Review: Hitters

Written By: Jacob Siegel

Photos From: Jordann White

 

The Legends offense put together a very solid season, with a .270/.378/.367 slash line. On-base skills were key to the offense’s success, as the team averaged almost five walks per game. They also stole almost four bases per game, with remarkable efficiency as they were only caught 12.5% of the time. The offense also had some power with 106 extra-base hits, including 11 triples and 11 homers. The total offensive output was 280 runs over the course of the year, good for more than six runs per game. The following is a recap of every hitter’s season (of those who averaged at least one plate appearance per game), listed in descending order by plate appearances.

 

Nick Thomson Thomson was a utility player for the Legends, playing all over the field. He was part of 10 double plays while recording 72 putouts. Thomson led the team in plate appearances, playing in 36 games and hitting 142 times. His on-base skills and speed made him a valuable hitter at the top of the lineup, as he walked 25 times en route to a .394 OBP and stole 20 bases without getting thrown out. No other Legends runner stole double-digit bags without being caught. He also showed some pop, hitting 11 extra-base hits, including a homer. Thomson will be playing at San Francisco State University this year.

 

Ryan FarrFarr, a returner to the Legends, played all over the diamond this summer. A natural infielder, he played more and more in the corner outfield spots as the season progressed. At the plate, he was tied for second on the team in hits with 31, while also providing 16 runs and knocking in 17. He found his groove on the bases in the second half of the season, stealing 9 of his 12 bases in July without being caught in the month. He also pitched in relief in San Luis Obispo, facing 6 hitters and recording 4 outs without allowing a run. Dependability was one of Farr’s calling cards this season, as he appeared in a team-high 39 games. Farr will be playing at Cal Lutheran University this year.

 

Antonio NanezAfter bouncing around the infield in the first half of the season, Nanez settled in at shortstop and played there down the stretch for the Legends. A true team leader and captain in the field, he was part of 12 double plays, leading the team. At the plate, Nanez was a disciplined hitter with a 1:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, recording 18 of each. He scored 5 runs in the two playoff games, part of his 20 runs on the year along with 18 runs batted in. Nanez’s power stroke developed as the season went on, with 4 of his 5 extra-base hits coming in the last two and a half weeks of the season. Nanez will be playing at San Francisco State University this year.

 

Josh QuinnQuinn played all over the diamond for the Legends, starting the summer as an infielder and finishing it as more of a utility player. At the plate, he was one of the best hitters on the team, leading the team with 33 hits and pushing his average over .300 with 4 playoff hits. Quinn also wreaked havoc on the bases, leading the team with 27 steals and 26 runs. With a 90% success rate on the bases and 12 extra-base hits, including a home run, Quinn showed an impressive power and speed combination. Quinn will be playing at Cal Lutheran University this year.

 

Cooper WintonWinton was a mainstay in the Legends outfield the entire season, with most of his time coming in center field. He used his speed in the field to track down balls and on the bases to swipe 24 bags while only being caught twice. Winton was an on-base machine for the Legends with a .412 OBP, due in large part to walking 19 times. Winton is another player with a 1:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, leading to much of his value as a leadoff hitter and his 24 runs scored. He also used his speed and some power to hit 9 extra-base hits, highlighted by 2 triples. Winton will be playing at Stanislaus State this year.

 

Jacob FroessFroess began the year as a catcher for the Legends, but by the end of the year he had hit so well that he forced his way into the lineup and played more left field on the days he did not catch. He proved his defensive prowess by going all summer without recording an error. As a middle-of-the-order hitter, Froess led the team with 22 runs batted in while also scoring 14 runs of his own. Froess was also a magnet at the plate, as he was hit by 10 pitches. His 31 hits, including 7 for extra bases, were tied for second on the team, good for a .307 average. Froess will be playing at Cal State East Bay this year.

 

Noah ZertucheZertuche was a mainstay in the Legends infield, spending most of his time at second base. He ended the year especially strong, recording only 1 error after Independence Day. Zertuche tapped into his power as the summer progressed, with 4 extra-base hits in the final three weeks of the season, highlighted by a playoff triple and a homer in Healdsburg. Zertuche was one of a few players with more walks than strikeouts, walking 15 times compared to 12 strikeouts. That discipline led him to a .385 OBP, helping him score 17 runs. Zertuche will be playing at Chabot College this year.

 

Alex TolbertAs a first baseman for the Legends, Tolbert recorded a .974 fielding percentage this summer. Tolbert was the Legends biggest masher at the plate, hitting 13 triples and 2 homers en route to a team-leading .483 SLG. That power helped Tolbert score 10 runs while also driving in 17. For a big man, Tolbert also showed sneaky speed on the basepaths, stealing 4 bags. Tolbert was just getting hot as the season finished, hitting his two home runs in the last two weeks of the season. Tolbert is still in the transfer portal and is a great fit for any program looking to add some power to their lineup.

 

Jaden MingusMingus came from high school to the Legends and did not miss a beat, slotting in at third base while also playing some second. He led the team with a .455 OBP, on the back of 10 BBs and 6 HBP. He was another player with more walks than strikeouts, only striking out 7 times, or about 8% of plate appearances. Mingus also showed some pop with 3 doubles and a homer, leading to his team-best .871 OPS. His hitting and discipline, along with his 9 steals without being caught, led to Mingus being a mainstay in the middle of the Legends order by season’s end. Mingus will be playing at Westmont College this year.

 

Rowan FelschFelsch played the outfield this summer, while also seeing time at first base. He made only 1 error, finishing the season with a .976 fielding percentage. He had the third-best SLG on the team at .463, due in large part to his 3 home runs, including the only two-homer game by a Legend this summer, at home against the Seals. His plate discipline, in the form of 15 walks, coupled with his power, helped him to a .870 OPS, second on the team. He also showed some speed on the bases, swiping 8 bags in 9 attempts. Felsch will be playing at the College of San Mateo this year.

 

Ryan LeeLee was primarily a catcher for the Legends throughout the summer but also served a utility role, playing all over the field, specifically third base. He had an above-average fielding percentage and caught well down the stretch. His power at the plate led him to a .473 SLG, second on the team. His power manifested in the form of 7 doubles and 2 homers, including the only homer by a Legends righty at Cañada College this summer. He was 4 for 4 stealing bases and delivered 11 runs and 14 runs batted in. Lee also got on the mound once, throwing an inning and a third in Humboldt, striking out one without allowing a run. Lee will be playing at UC Davis this year.

 

Jackson SnitkoSnitko played mostly first base for the Legends this summer and did not make a single error in 85 opportunities. He was also a pitcher this summer, to read more about Snitko on the mound check out the pitching article. At the plate, Snitko was a solid contact hitter throughout the year, with 17 hits leading to a .262 batting average. He used his .351 OBP and 5 steals to score 12 runs while also driving in 8. Although his final stats may not have shown it, Snitko hit the ball hard all season long. 34.78% of his balls in play were line drives, second on the team and one of only two players who hit more liners than ground balls or fly balls. Snitko will be playing at Irvine Valley College this year.

 

Collin O’DriscollO’Driscoll was a strong defensive outfielder this summer, playing all three positions including more center field as the summer progressed. He was a steady glove out there, as he did not make an error after the first week of June. O’Driscoll used his speed not only for range in the outfield but also to steal 5 bases without getting caught, helping him score 6 runs. He was a patient hitter, walking 15 times and putting up a .394 OBP. O’Driscoll will be playing at the College of San Mateo this year.

 

Riley FoardFoard was another solid outfielder for the Legends, playing in all three spots. He was fast in the outfield and on the bases, hitting a triple and stealing 8 bags without being caught. He used that speed, and his elite on-base skills, to score 14 runs on the season. Foard was another player to walk more than he struck out, walking 16 times with only 14 strikeouts. This led to a clean .400 OBP, one of the best on the team. Foard also threw a clean inning on the mound, requiring only 6 pitches. Foard will be playing for Pomona-Pitzer this year.

 

Ethan PaynePayne was another strong backstop for the Legends, throwing out a team-high 19.61% of would-be base stealers while also picking off another runner. As a hitter, Payne got hot at the start of July with 6 hits over 3 games, including 5 runs batted in, 2 runs, and a double. He was a clutch and selfless hitter for the Legends, driving in 12 runs total and hitting 2 sac flies. Payne will be playing at Cañada College this year.

 

Danny PetersAlong with his pitching (read more in the pitching article), Peters played the corner infield positions this summer. His strong fielding helped contribute to 69 putouts and 6 double plays. At the plate, Peters was a well-rounded hitter with a .382 OBP and .410 SLG thanks to 5 doubles. Often hitting in the middle of the order, Peters drove in 13 runs while scoring 4. He also showed some speed on the bases with 4 steals without being caught. Peters will be playing at the College of San Mateo this year.

 

Ryan AndersonAnderson played the outfield for the Legends, with most of his time coming in right field. He was a heads-up player with a strong arm, recording 2 assists, both on double plays. Anderson used some of his speed on the bases as well, swiping 6 bases. He was a disciplined hitter, walking 8 times while only striking out 11, and seeing more than 25% of his plate appearances last at least 6 pitches. He used his on-base skills and speed to score 8 runs over the summer. Anderson is still in the transfer portal and is a great fit for a team looking for a good defensive outfielder who will work counts and get on base.

 

Hunter Friedberg Friedberg played the corner outfield positions for the Legends, making only 1 error throughout the entire season. At the plate, Friedberg used a great eye to walk 12 times, helping him to a .423 OBP, second on the team. He also showed a solid power and speed combination, with 3 extra-base hits, including a triple, and 11 stolen bases. He scored 7 runs and saw a team-high 4.83 pitches per plate appearance. Friedberg will be playing at the University of San Diego this year.