Powerhouse Hitter Miguel Gomez Shows No Signs of Slowing Down
July 31, 2015 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes News Release
On Wednesday night, Salem-Keizer catcher Miguel Gomez smashed a 1-2 count pitch for a walk-off single to deep left field, securing a Volcanoes 5-4 extra-innings victory.
The visiting Everett AquaSox had taken the lead early, but the Volcanoes, and Gomez, refused to go down easily, chipping away at the deficit and forcing the contest to go to extra innings.
"I'm confident at the plate," Gomez said. "If I see a good pitch, I try and kill it."
Wednesday night wasn't the only time the catcher has put on a show this season for Salem-Keizer.
The 22-year-old Dominican Republic native hit his way into Volcanoes record books just three nights earlier. Gomez went 2-for-5 on July 25 at PK Park in Eugene, notching his 20th straight contest with a hit, setting a franchise mark for most consecutive games with a base knock.
The streak continued to 22 games for Gomez through the following series against the Hillsboro Hops before Gomez was hitless July 28, snapping the streak. But his pace over three weeks puts him in the top tier of Northwest League hitters over the last half century. It was the longest hitting streak in the Northwest League since 2012 and just four games shy of the Northwest League record set at 26 games twice before since the league formed in 1955.
Despite the hitting streak coming to an end, Gomez remains confident in his approach.
"I'm going to keep doing what I always do and pick good pitches," Gomez said.
Gomez's season resume turned heads around the league, leading to a prestigious selection. He will be the starting catcher representing the Northwest League in the All-Star game against the Pioneer League Tuesday, August 4 in Spokane, Washington.
"I'm very happy and thankful they chose me," Gomez said. "I'm ready to put some work in."
Volcanoes manager Kyle Haines whole-heartedly agrees with the league's nod.
"He's probably been one of the best players in the whole league during the first half of the season," Haines said." It's great to see his hard work pay off in this way."
As of July 31st, Gomez leads the Northwest League in batting average (.370) and ranks second in RBI (32).
While Gomez is a natural at the plate, the 5'10'' slugger has spent months refining his plate discipline.
Consistency in his pitch selection is becoming increasingly evident in his game. Gomez has only struck out 14 times in 154 at-bats through 36 games this season. That strikeout per at-bat ratio paces the Northwest League.
Volcanoes 10-year hitting coach Ricky Ward has worked diligently with Gomez on refining his approach.
"We have worked on his strike zone discipline and his pitch selection," Ward said. "He has such good hand-eye coordination that he would want to swing at anything in the zone."
With the second-half of the league season just underway, Gomez's 2015 season is long from over.
If he continues at this pace, he will have the chance to break Will Thompson's 2005 Volcanoes season batting average record of .384. In 1997, Travis Young recorded a franchise-high 109 hits in a season. To date, Gomez has recorded 57 hits.
Haines likes Gomez's chances to join that exclusive group of special Volcanoes hitters.
"Every at bat he's a threat to hit a line drive somewhere," Haines said.
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Northwest League Stories from July 31, 2015
- Palacios Picks Apart Canadians - Boise Hawks
- Dominant Jared Miller Goes for Hops at Tri-City Friday Night - Hillsboro Hops
- Indians, NWL Announce Home Run Derby Format - Spokane Indians
- Powerhouse Hitter Miguel Gomez Shows No Signs of Slowing Down - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Former Oregon State Star Set to Pitch at Volcanoes Stadium - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Ryan Casteel Joins Boise Hawks on Rehab Assignment - Boise Hawks
- Nail-Biter Turns into Blowout Loss at Tri-City - Hillsboro Hops
- Dust Devils Dash Past Hops - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Beltre, Indians Falter Late in Loss to Ems - Spokane Indians
- Salem-Keizer Blasts Three Homers in Win - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
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