King of swing
Heinrich catapults from batting depths to hitting highs
By Brian Purcell
Daily Bruin Contributor
UCLA head baseball coach Gary Adams wasn’t sure that junior left
fielder Jon Heinrichs would ever succeed at this school.
Although he was a standout player at Grossmont High School in
San Diego, and possessed the speed and defensive skills to do well
at this level, Adams didn’t know if Heinrichs could ever develop a
good enough swing to hit in the Six-Pac.
"His first year here, he looked like George Washington chopping
a cherry tree down. He really had a very bad swing," Adams said. "I
wasn’t sure that he was ever going to get it. Even during his
sophomore year, I thought he had one of the worst swings on the
team."
The 1996 season has Adams singing a much different tune. The
comparisons to George Washington are out, lavish praise is in.
"His swing this year is one of the best swings mechanically,
fundamentally, that I’ve ever seen," Adams said. "Jon worked very
hard with coach Beringhele this winter, and it has really paid off.
I just love his swing now."
If his swing was as bad as Adams says it was last year, it is
scary to think what Heinrichs may do with the new version. Bad
swing or not, last year was a very productive one for
Heinrichs.
After starting the season as the fourth outfielder, and
expecting to spend most of the season on the bench, Heinrichs was
inserted into the lineup after three games when center fielder
Brett Schafer went down with an injury.
Heinrichs didn’t let the opportunity pass him by, as he started
every game in center for the rest of the season, and ended up
leading the team with a .375 batting average in Six-Pac play. Not
bad for a guy with an ugly swing.
This year, Heinrichs expects that his new swing will yield even
more impressive results, especially in the power department.
"I worked with Vinnie (Beringhele) a lot this winter on leveling
out my swing. Now I’m more on the plane of the ball," Heinrichs
said. "It’s already helping me hit with more power."
As a leadoff hitter, hitting with power is just an added bonus
to Heinrichs’ game. His main job is to set the table for the middle
of the lineup, and so far this season he has done so.
Heinrichs has posted a .311 batting average on the year, and has
added a team-leading 13 walks. He has provided the spark, as well
as the finishing touch to many rallies this year, by scoring 12
times and producing late-inning, game-winning hits against both
Stanford and Pepperdine.
On a team filled with stars, Heinrichs has not gained much
notoriety. His success has been quiet, usually only noticed by
those who watch him every day.
"Jon has made himself into a great player," senior Zak Ammirato
said. "We have so many big-name guys that some guys get left behind
as far as publicity goes, and Jon is one of those guys. He does a
lot for our team from the leadoff spot."
Whether or not Heinrichs ever gets his due, he is is content to
plug along and continue to be a big contributor to the Bruin
team.
"I didn’t even expect to play much last year, so to be where I
am right now makes me pretty happy," Heinrichs said. "I know that I
can hold my own with anyone."
Adams is pretty happy with his left fielder as well. In just
over a year, Heinrichs has gone from being a question mark at the
plate to being as solid a hitter as any of the bigger names on the
team.
"Jon has made amazing strides over the last two years," Adams
said. "He’s good enough now that I think he could go on and play
left field for someone after he leaves UCLA. He has worked very
hard to reach this level."
PATRICK LAM/Daily Bruin
Jon Heinrichs quietly led the UCLA baseball team with a .375
batting average in conference play last season and has continued
his success this year after moving to left field.
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