The University of Mississippi Athletics
Blackman Embraces Preseason Expectations
2/10/2015 | Baseball
Feb. 10, 2015
By Austin Miller, OleMissSports.com
OXFORD, Miss. -- D1Baseball's Preseason SEC Freshman of the Year, Tate Blackman joins a long line of talented middle infielders that have come through the Ole Miss baseball program in recent years, a group that includes two current major leaguers in Chris Coghlan and Zack Cozart.
Despite his outward confidence, he downplayed his preseason accolades and expectations going into the season.
"Sometimes, it's hard not to feel that pressure," Blackman said. "I try to let it go. It's baseball. I try to come out here like it's T-ball all over again. Hit the ball, field the ball, and have fun. That's what I try to do every day"
The Altamonte Springs, Florida, native is expected to get the start at second base, alongside sophomore Errol Robinson, who became the first true freshman to start at shortstop for the Rebels on opening day since Cozart started at the position in 2005. Head coach Mike Bianco pointed not only to Blackman's ability as a hitter, runner and defender, but the way he carries himself as a freshman that made him the best option.
"We have had our share of great middle infielders," Bianco said. "Tate, at this point, looks as offensive as anybody we have ever had as an infielder come into our program. He reminds me, offensively, of Chris Coghlan, not because of his style of play, but the way he will contribute. As a true freshman, he stepped in and hit immediately. Tate is a little different. Tate's right-handed. He has a little more power and runs a little better than Chris did. Certainly, he's a super talent."
The youngest of four brothers, all of whom played college baseball, Blackman chose Ole Miss in part because of his relationships developed from summer travel ball with the Orlando Scorpions. His older brothers played with senior Sikes Orvis and former Rebel Auston Bousfield, while Tate, himself, grew up playing with sophomores Colby Bortles and J.B. Woodman.
"I talked to them a lot, and they said it's a blast to play in front of 10,000-plus people," Blackman said. "I wanted to go somewhere big and play in front of a lot of fans. I played summer ball with J.B. (Woodman). I committed before him, and when he told me he committed, I was excited to play with him, someone I grew up playing baseball with."
"He's always had confidence and swagger," Orvis said. "He's always been the best of the four. He has a lot of talent, a lot of power, a lot of juice, and he's not afraid to mess up. He gets right in there. He's a hard-nosed player. He's going to be really good. The game speeds up for him as it does for all freshmen, but he has all the confidence in the world in himself, so he'll be fine. He's ready to go."
After the first day of the 2014 MLB Draft, which included the first two rounds and two compensatory rounds, Blackman did not hear his name called, after which he knew he was going to school. He received a phone call on the second day of the draft, in the third round, but it was not the number he wanted, so he remained on the board until the 20th round, when he was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers.
"My parents and me really stuck to my number," Blackman said. "I told the scout that it was my dream to play pro ball, but if he didn't have what I wanted, then he can skip on me. They skipped on me, and I'm blessed to be here."
Looking ahead to the season opener Friday against William & Mary, Blackman expects a packed crowd and some butterflies in his stomach, but after that first play, that first hit, his focus will turn toward competing and helping the team get back to Omaha and the College World Series.
"It's a blessing to get the opportunity," Blackman said. "I came in here as a freshman, trying to work hard on and off the field. My goal was to come in here and make a big impact my freshman year, and hopefully Friday will be a good day for me and for the team. We put up a victory, and I can stick at second base."
Austin Miller is a writer and blogger for OleMissSports.com. He joined the staff in June 2013 after serving as sports editor of the Daily Mississippian. Follow him on Twitter @austinkmiller
OXFORD, Miss. -- D1Baseball's Preseason SEC Freshman of the Year, Tate Blackman joins a long line of talented middle infielders that have come through the Ole Miss baseball program in recent years, a group that includes two current major leaguers in Chris Coghlan and Zack Cozart.
Despite his outward confidence, he downplayed his preseason accolades and expectations going into the season.
"Sometimes, it's hard not to feel that pressure," Blackman said. "I try to let it go. It's baseball. I try to come out here like it's T-ball all over again. Hit the ball, field the ball, and have fun. That's what I try to do every day"
The Altamonte Springs, Florida, native is expected to get the start at second base, alongside sophomore Errol Robinson, who became the first true freshman to start at shortstop for the Rebels on opening day since Cozart started at the position in 2005. Head coach Mike Bianco pointed not only to Blackman's ability as a hitter, runner and defender, but the way he carries himself as a freshman that made him the best option.
"We have had our share of great middle infielders," Bianco said. "Tate, at this point, looks as offensive as anybody we have ever had as an infielder come into our program. He reminds me, offensively, of Chris Coghlan, not because of his style of play, but the way he will contribute. As a true freshman, he stepped in and hit immediately. Tate is a little different. Tate's right-handed. He has a little more power and runs a little better than Chris did. Certainly, he's a super talent."
The youngest of four brothers, all of whom played college baseball, Blackman chose Ole Miss in part because of his relationships developed from summer travel ball with the Orlando Scorpions. His older brothers played with senior Sikes Orvis and former Rebel Auston Bousfield, while Tate, himself, grew up playing with sophomores Colby Bortles and J.B. Woodman.
"I talked to them a lot, and they said it's a blast to play in front of 10,000-plus people," Blackman said. "I wanted to go somewhere big and play in front of a lot of fans. I played summer ball with J.B. (Woodman). I committed before him, and when he told me he committed, I was excited to play with him, someone I grew up playing baseball with."
"He's always had confidence and swagger," Orvis said. "He's always been the best of the four. He has a lot of talent, a lot of power, a lot of juice, and he's not afraid to mess up. He gets right in there. He's a hard-nosed player. He's going to be really good. The game speeds up for him as it does for all freshmen, but he has all the confidence in the world in himself, so he'll be fine. He's ready to go."
After the first day of the 2014 MLB Draft, which included the first two rounds and two compensatory rounds, Blackman did not hear his name called, after which he knew he was going to school. He received a phone call on the second day of the draft, in the third round, but it was not the number he wanted, so he remained on the board until the 20th round, when he was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers.
"My parents and me really stuck to my number," Blackman said. "I told the scout that it was my dream to play pro ball, but if he didn't have what I wanted, then he can skip on me. They skipped on me, and I'm blessed to be here."
Looking ahead to the season opener Friday against William & Mary, Blackman expects a packed crowd and some butterflies in his stomach, but after that first play, that first hit, his focus will turn toward competing and helping the team get back to Omaha and the College World Series.
"It's a blessing to get the opportunity," Blackman said. "I came in here as a freshman, trying to work hard on and off the field. My goal was to come in here and make a big impact my freshman year, and hopefully Friday will be a good day for me and for the team. We put up a victory, and I can stick at second base."
Austin Miller is a writer and blogger for OleMissSports.com. He joined the staff in June 2013 after serving as sports editor of the Daily Mississippian. Follow him on Twitter @austinkmiller
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