Henry bringing aggression to plate at Ole Miss|[03/03/08]
Published 12:00 am Monday, March 3, 2008
OXFORD — Aggression. That’s the new word Ole Miss sophomore outfielder Jordan Henry wants to have in his head when he steps in the batter’s box this season.
By doing so, he hopes to avoid the dreaded sophomore jinx.
All Henry did in his first season at Ole Miss was claim the 2007 Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year award. The former Vicksburg High Gator batted .373 as the team’s leadoff hitter and helped them to a third straight NCAA Oxford Regional title.
Henry’s already displaying his new found aggression at the plate and on the base paths. Through eight games, he is hitting .378 with a pair of doubles as Ole Miss is 8-0 and ranked No. 2 in the country. The difference has been as a base-runner. He’s 6-for-6 on stolen base attempts.
“What’s different this year is my aggressiveness,” Henry said. “I’m been a little more aggressive both with my power and in base-running.”
After the Rebels were swept by Arizona State in last June’s Super Regional, Henry went to New York for the USA National Team trials.
“I really enjoyed those two weeks in New York and they kept me around as an alternate. Then I developed shin splits. I pretty much took the rest of the summer off after that.”
It looked like the his shins might make for a shaky fall, but Henry said he was able to get back into shape.
“My legs feel 100 percent now,” he said.
Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco likes how Henry has responded for his unbeaten Rebels.
“He’s been tremendous. He’s a lot more of threat on the base paths than he was at anytime last year. He’s getting good jumps. We look for him to be a catalyst for our offense all year,” Bianco said.
With a stout pitching staff led by ace Lance Lynn and a lineup that has added more power throughout with Logan Power and Michael Guerrero, the Rebels are eyeing Omaha after suffering three straight years of disappointment in the Super Regionals.
“I think we could be better. We have a lot of depth on the this team. It has a lot of experience having been to the Super Regionals three times in a row,” Henry said.
“It’s not fair to compare us to last year just two games in, but talent wise, we’ve got a shot to be good,” Bianco said. “We’re improved in a lot areas and one of area where Jordan has improved is his defense in the outfield.”
The one big change for Jordan is no longer having big brother, Justin, hitting behind him, and offering advice. Justin Henry is currently in spring training with the Detroit Tigers.
“I talk with him about every other day,” Jordan said.
“He’s in Florida working out with the big team. He’s hoping to make at least the low A club or maybe the high A club. He’s been hanging out with a lot of the major league guys on Detroit’s team. The other day he was in the parking lot when Gary Sheffield drove up in this brand new Lamborghini. It must be nice.”