Former Harbor Slugger Brendan Bobo Heating Up For Titans | County Connections
© Santa Cruz Sentinel Cal State Fullerton's Brendan Bobo, a Harbor High School grad, has hit five straight homers this season. (Katie Albertson - CSU Fullerton Athletics)Brendan Bobo took the reins to borrow with 1990s techno-pop group C&C Music Factory.
However, if he wants to increase his standing in the eyes of professional scouts ahead of this summer's Major League Baseball draft, the Harbor High graduate will need to raise his batting average significantly.
Now a junior at Cal State Fullerton, Bobo led the Titans baseball team in home runs for five years. That total included a two-run walk-off blast by the left-hander over the right field fence at the end of the 10th to lead CSUF to a 12-11 win over Hawaii.
Bobo also hit eight homers last season, three of which came in Cal State Fullerton's last two games.
During this time, Bobo managed the Northwoods League, a summer college league in the Midwest. Not only did he hit 17 in 55 games for the Wisconsin River Rafters, but he also led the league in RBI with 56.
"He's one of the best candidates in this league," said Jason Dietrich, Cal State Fullerton coach.
Now that he's back with the Titans, Bobo is looking to increase his batting average while reducing his strikeout as his team aims to impress any major league scouts looking to sign him after this season.
"He has better eyesight," Dietrich said in early March. "He's not just out there swinging and he's not just out there hitting homers, although he's got a few. He also hit average.
"You can tell he's grown up. It's hard to be average but he did what we asked of him."
Bobo can certainly reach a high average. 298, higher than either of his first two seasons at Fullerton. 247 for the Titans as a freshman, then bumped his average to a .258 as a sophomore.
The son of a former Los Angeles Angels minor league player certainly faced some challenges early in his college career in NCAA Division I.
"It was a big move from SMA to DI," said Bobo. “Santa Cruz is a small town. only a few throwers throw hard. At the Division I level, everyone pitches really hard. Every pitcher is a number 1. You really have to get used to that.”
After struggling through the first two games of the season, Bobo inevitably suffered setbacks in the next three games of CSUF;
Bobo's best game in this hot period is the one she started with. He went 2-for-5 with homers, a double and four RBIs in Cal State Fullerton's 21-13 loss to Stanford, then ranked No. Team - Feb. 19.
Over the next 10 games, Bobo cooled off significantly, scoring 5 out of 33 while his average dropped to a .196. Two of those five hits were home runs; Bobo hit a two-shot in the March 12 win over Pepperdine and another two-shot in the Titans' 11-2 win over UC Davis on March 24.
Bobo's team-high 26 strikeouts in 66 at-bats lowered his average significantly.
"Sometimes homeschoolers put too much pressure on themselves," says Dietrich. “Of course we need to have more shots. Get the best pitch, bring out your swing. It's best not to hit the ball over the limits all the time.
"It's a game of failure," added the coach. "Just do your best and make small adjustments and your average will take care of itself."
If Cal State Fullerton's last three Big West Conference games against Air are any indication, Bobo is starting to turn things around. CSUF won 7-6 last Friday. After hitting a home run on Sunday, Bobo ended the day 2-for-5 in which he also doubled, notched two touchdowns, and increased his .212 average.
Though he's seen action at first base, third base and left field, Bobo primarily serves as Cal State Fullerton's designated hitter. In this role, Bobo learns from each round at the plate and mentally prepares for the next one.
"I think 30 seconds at most," he said. “I pack a few things into my next shot and try not to think about it. I'll just go and come back with the team."
A kinesiology major, Bobo hopes to eventually become a strength and conditioning coach if a major league career doesn't pan out.
Right now, he's focused on "getting one percent better every day" and will hopefully be on some teams' radars by the time of the Major League Draft in July.
"I don't worry if I don't do it. 2 or I don't do it. 300 won't go," Bobo said. "I just do what I do."
DISTRICT ASSOCIATION
The District Liaison is open every Thursday during the school year. For local collegiate athlete news, email Ray Hacke at raydhackelaw@gmail.com.
