The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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68 ■ THE WOLFPACKER On back-to-back weeks, he was named the ACC Player of the Week and the Na- tional Player of the Week by the various organizations that choose those things. He's been a prominent reason why Elliott Avent's Wolfpack has matched the highest national rankings in program history, hitting No. 2 in several polls, as it did in both 1993 and 2003. Kinneman is hitting flares, moonshots and line drives — anything he can do to get on base and drive in runs for the Pack. There is no evidence, as you read this, the mammoth two-run homer he hit in the Wolfpack's eighth-inning rally in the rubber game against Georgia Tech in late March has landed on the other side of the wall at Doak Field at Dail Park. Clearly, he did something dramatic in the offseason to drastically improve on the solid numbers he put up as a freshman and sophomore, when he rapped out 99 hits, 16 home runs and 73 RBI in those two seasons. "Not really," the hard-hitting left fielder said. "I don't think there is any one thing that I've done to be better this year. I spent the summer playing in the Cape Cod League, trying to improve a little at everything, and I think that's paying off." Kinneman did in fact spend the summer playing for the Cotuit Kettleers, but his numbers there don't look like his season stats with the Wolfpack. He posted a .207 batting average with two home runs, eight extra-base hits and 15 RBI. That was against some of college base- ball's best pitchers. Just the opportunity to face them on a regular basis sharpened his eye when he returned to campus in the fall. "It was a good learning experience for me, to be able to focus only on baseball the whole time," explained Kinneman, who took a break from his studies in business administration with a concentration in mar- keting. "Playing against elite players and facing the highest-level pitching possible for two and a half months helped me get ready for this season. "I got more repetitions, more daily work. I just tried to be a better outfielder, a better base runner, to have better discipline." For both Avent and assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Chris Hart, this is the Kinneman they saw as a high school sopho- more when they watched him play in several southern travel tournaments in Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia. Hart offered Kinneman a scholarship at an early age, and Avent fell in love with his style of play as soon as he arrived on cam- pus in 2015. "From the first time I saw him play, I thought he was going to be special," Avent said. "He's become the player we all thought he would be." Avent, an old-school coach who loves old-school players, has no trouble express- ing his coach-crush on Kinneman. "He's just phenomenal," Avent said. "All the things I say about some players, that they are old-school, work hard, play the game like it used to be played, are a great teammate, play for the love of the game not the outcome — he's all of them." Avent specifically points to Kinneman's work ethic, his hours in the batting cages, his time in the weight room and his efforts on the field. "When you put his work ethic and talent together, you get something special," the coach said. "It takes time. It doesn't happen overnight, but we always knew he was an exceptional player. He's been patient and has continued to work hard. "He embodies everything I want our pro- gram to be." He's become the anchor bat on what may well be the best outfield in NC State base- ball history, along with senior center fielder Josh McLain and senior right fielder Brock Deatherage. The trio has spent most of the season well over the .300 mark in batting average. The other two are among the fastest outfield- ers in college baseball, but Kinneman is the only one of the three who has ESPN SportsCenter's Plays of the Day, thanks to his remarkable juggling catch against Duke. "We've played together now for three years," Kinneman said. "I have learned so much from both of them. Going out there with them every day, I'm able to pick up a lot of small things that have helped me." Kinneman is enjoying the Wolfpack's tidal wave of success, which includes cap- turing 10 consecutive ACC series dating back to last season before being swept at home by UNC at the end of April. He hopes that momentum will carry into the postseason, so he can replicate his favor- ite NC State memory — hosting an NCAA regional and super regional at Doak Field at Dail Park. "That was the most fun I've ever had playing baseball," the lifelong New York Yankees fan noted. "The fans and the at- mosphere were great the whole time. The weather and the outcome weren't what we were hoping for, but it was an amazing ex- perience and one of the biggest highlights of my baseball career." And maybe, with some incremental im- provements all the way around, the Wolf- pack can go a little farther in Kinneman's junior season. ■ OLD SCHOOL Junior Outfielder Brett Kinneman's Approach To Baseball Is Paying Off This Season Through 42 games, Kinneman was batting .287 while posting team highs in both home runs (13) and RBI (46). PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP "When you put his work ethic and talent together, you get something special." ■ Head baseball coach Elliott Avent BY TIM PEELER B rett Kinneman isn't an overnight sensation, and he knows it. He's been working too hard, too long for that to be true. There is no question, however, that the self-described baseball junkie has been nothing less than remarkable during his junior season. Through the end of April, the native of York, Pa., ranks near the top of several ACC offensive statistical category. Through 42 games, he was bat- ting .287 with 13 home runs (second in the ACC) and 46 RBI (third in the conference). His three triples were tied for second in the league. Tim Peeler is a regular contributor to The Wolfpacker. and can be reached at tmpeeler@ncsu.edu.