Duke’s MJ Metz crushes three home runs with torn ACL
Duke Baseball Player MJ Metz Hits Three Home Runs on Torn ACL
Despite suffering from a torn ACL, Duke baseball player MJ Metz hit three home runs and helped the Blue Devils power past UNC Wilmington 12-3 during the team’s NCAA Regional opener on Friday. Metz had injured his knee during an ACC Tournament game on May 23, and it was unclear if he would be able to participate at all in Friday’s contest. However, with a strong round of batting practice, Metz was able to give it a go. “I thought that I could help the team and that’s all I was trying to do,” said Metz in an interview with the Fayetteville Observer. “I told [head coach Chris Pollard] I wanted to give it a shot and that I’d let him know if anything changed. Just grateful for the way it all turned out.”
As the designated hitter, Metz mashed his three homers and became the first Duke player in over two years to achieve such a feat. Despite an inauspicious start, striking out in his first bat, Metz went on to blast a game-tying home run to right field for the Blue Devils in the fourth inning. In the next inning, Metz hit the ball almost to the same exact spot on the opposite field for a two-run blast. Metz capped off his day in the seventh inning when he mashed a no-doubt two-run bomb to left field for his third big fly.
Metz case appears to defy logic, but coach Pollard could not have been more impressed with his slugger. “It kind of defies logic a little bit, but he’s an exceptionally tough person,” said Pollard in an interview with the Observer. Metz has 16 long balls with 45 RBIs and a .601 slugging percentage – statistics that matter as Duke looks to advance in the NCAA postseason.
FAQs Section:
Who is MJ Metz?
MJ Metz is a player on the Duke Baseball team.
How many home runs did MJ Metz hit?
MJ Metz hit three home runs in the game against UNC Wilmington.
Did MJ Metz play with an injury?
Yes, MJ Metz played with a torn ACL.
What was MJ Metz’s performance like despite his injury?
MJ Metz hit three home runs and became the first Duke player in over two years to achieve such a feat.
MJ Metz of Duke hits three home runs despite suffering from a torn ACL.
Duke Baseball Player MJ Metz Hits Three Home Runs on Torn ACL
In a stunning display of grit and determination, Duke baseball player MJ Metz hit three home runs in the NCAA Regional opener against UNC Wilmington while playing on a torn ACL. Despite the injury, Metz powered his team to a 12-3 victory.
Metz sustained the injury during an ACC Tournament game on May 23 and it was uncertain if he would take the field on Friday. However, after a strong batting practice, the graduate student decided to give it a go. “I thought that I could help the team and that’s all I was trying to do,” Metz said, according to the Fayetteville Observer. “I told [head coach Chris Pollard] I wanted to give it a shot and that I’d let him know if anything changed. Just grateful for the way it all turned out.”
As the designated hitter, Metz’s three homers made Duke baseball history. In the fourth inning, he hit a game-tying home run to right field. The next inning, Metz hit a two-run blast to almost the same spot on the opposite field. He ended his three-home-run game in the seventh inning with a no-doubt two-run bomb to left field.
Coach Pollard couldn’t have been more impressed with Metz’s performance. “It kind of defies logic a little bit, but he’s an exceptionally tough person,” he said according to the Observer.
Despite his injury, Metz has 16 home runs for the year with 45 RBIs and a .601 slugging percentage as Duke looks to advance in the NCAA postseason.