In a season of ups and downs for the Santa Maria Packers, third baseman Ryan Delgado hit the top of the charts.
The slugger finished the season as the California Collegiate League leader in homeruns (six) and slugging percentage (.527). His 36 RBIs were enough to land him second in the league.
“I’ve just been trying to put a good swing on the ball and make good things happen,” Delgado said. “I’m taking a smarter approach to the plate and just trying to take it away. I’ve been fortunate to carry it out of the ballpark.”
Learning from Packers coaches, such as Bryn Smith, Delgado said he was too busy helping the team with run production and improving his own game to pay attention to the stats.
“It’s all about getting comfortable and seeing as many at-bats as you can. That’s the big thing for me at least,” Delgado said. “The more swings I get in, the better I feel as a player, and the more confidence I have.”
Packers coach Scott Nickason said Delgado’s presence at the plate and prowess in the field made him one of the league’s best all-around players. In addition to being the team’s middle-of-the-lineup power surge, he said, Delgado infused the Packers with an infectious enthusiasm for the game.
“His nickname is ‘Happy Bear,’ like the Care Bears,” Nickason said. “He always has a smile on his face and just loves to come out here and play.”
Delgado has garnered major-league interest from the Cleveland Indians, and while his career with the Packers may be through, his summer isn’t. He’ll head to Witchita to play for the Conejo Oaks before moving on to his senior year at Azusa Pacific University, where he is majoring in business administration.
This article appears in Aug 6-13, 2009.