If the Sun Belt were giving out midseason superlatives, the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns have a strong candidate for midseason MVP.
Through the first 12 games of the season, Alex Pinero has definitely been one of the best players on the team, especially on the plate. The senior out of Pensacola State CC is currently leads the Cajuns in batting average (.419), slugging percentage (.628), RBIs (13), and doubles (7).
During Saturday’s 6-1 victory over Saint Peter’s, Pinero wound up going 3-for-4 including a two-run double in the bottom of the third.
“It feels great to keep swinging the bat and helping this team win.” Pinero said, “As long as the team is winning, hitting is contagious. I’m starting to swing the bat really well the last couple of weeks. Hopefully, I can keep it going.”
Pinero has been a very big deal since his arrival last season and was right behind Kyle Clement in several of the offensive categories in 2016 and that can be attributed to how competitive he is as a player.
“He’s a competitor that’s got throw down and if we get more guys with throw down, we’ll be standing at the end.” Robichaux said of the senior first baseman, “Sometimes he’ll swing through a pitch, the pitcher will make him look bad like he did today on a breaking ball and then he hits a double. He just goes into compete mode he don’t care about where my little toes landing or how I feel from my previous at-bat or being 0-for-2 on the day. When it’s time to throw down, he throws down.”
That throw down personality has suited him well and endeared himself with many of the Cajun fans. This isn’t lost on Robichaux as he thinks that Pinero has what makes the greatest competitors.
However, much like other athletes in any sport there are aspects where he needs to improve in order to become a better player.
“The only thing he’s got to continue to do in order to grow is not let it consume him.” Robichaux said, “Sometimes it can consume him, but I’d rather slow a mustang down than kick a donkey in the rear end every day.”
-Clint Domingue