After missing the entire 2015 baseball season due to a knee injury, redshirt sophomore A.J. Balta said he had something to prove before the 2016 campaign began.
He proved it. In Oregon’s first series of the season at San Diego State, Balta launched two home runs and a triple to help lead Oregon to a three-game sweep.
“Not only did he have the production and power and hits, he crushed the ball when he made some outs,” manager George Horton said of Balta. “The quality of at-bats he had was borderline spectacular.”
Balta was equally excited about the performance.
“It was great,” Balta said. “Just coming back out and playing with the boys, playing with the team — it’s just a great feeling again.
“Coach gave me the opportunity to crack the starting lineup, so I just want to show everyone that I can still do it.”
Balta’s injury came during the 2015 preseason. He was walking down the stairs at his house when the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee suddenly snapped. He’d never suffered a similar injury before — there was “nothing [he] could do to control it.”
Now, Balta feels “100 percent.” The recovery process was long, he said, but taking advantage of Oregon’s top-notch trainers and facilities made it a lot easier.
“I feel better than I was my freshman year, and I feel healthier than I have ever been,” Balta said.
Balta set Oregon freshman records with 12 doubles, three triples and 78 total bases, while batting .242 with 29 RBI and three home runs in 2014. A first baseman/outfielder from Valencia, California, he was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American.
Horton has batted Balta second in the the lineup each game of the current season, where he’s led the team in RBI (7) and posted a .520 slugging percentage.
“He’s maybe not your prototypical two-hitter, but I think AJ’s gonna be a run-producer,” Horton said.
Horton described Balta as a “very confident individual,” who errs on the side of being over-aggressive.
“We like his personality in the batter’s box,” Horton said.
Oregon has its sights set on a College World Series berth, a goal it hasn’t reached in Horton’s seven seasons at the helm. Balta said the team’s mentality is a lot tougher this year than in previous years.
“Everyone’s attitude is right where it needs to be: just treat every day like it’s opening day, and I think we do that,” Balta said. “Even with practices, we come out ready to go for it. I think we’re right where we need to be.”
After starting 47 games at first base as a freshman, Balta now finds himself playing left field, his preferred position. He modestly acknowledged he has yet to win the job outright, but with ability to hit for power, Horton will have a hard time keeping him out of the starting lineup.
“I still haven’t earned anything,” Balta said. “I still need to come out and play every game, but I definitely feel good.”