Many might consider it difficult to pitch and also hit at the
college level. Some might consider it impossible to do both at an
elite level.
But those people have not seen Hector Ambriz, the ace Bruin
pitcher and cleanup hitter on the most surprising team in the
Pac-10. Not only does he make it look easy, to him, it actually is
easy.
“I just think it’s fun,” Ambriz said.
“They say it’s tough (hitting and pitching) but
it’s not. I’ve been doing it my whole life.”
Not everyone who’s been playing since Little League can do
what he’s doing, though.
Through 34 innings this year, Ambriz has thrown 35 strikeouts,
holds a 2-0 record and has an ERA of 1.59. While certainly living
up to his billing as an ace, the redshirt sophomore has also been
crushing the ball, batting .435 with a home run and eight RBI.
“Hector is fantastic,” UCLA coach John Savage said.
“He’s one of the best two-way guys in the country.
He’s the No. 4 hitter and No. 1 pitcher on a Pac-10 team,
which says a lot about him.”
In his best game this season, Ambriz threw a complete game
shutout with a career-high 10 strikeouts and went 3-for-3 at the
plate while scoring two runs.
In short, Ambriz delivered with the bat and the arm, which is
all very surprising, considering that a year ago he was worrying
whether he’d ever be able to pitch again.
Last year, Ambriz was told that he might have a torn labrum, and
surgery would have to be done on his pitching shoulder.
“Torn” and “labrum” are generally two
words that a pitcher never wants to hear because the combination of
the two usually means the end of a career.
“I was definitely worried,” Ambriz said. “I
thought my labrum was torn. As soon as I saw the doctor after the
surgery I asked him and he said it wasn’t.”
The injury, while not a tear of the labrum, kept him out for the
rest of the season.
Despite missing all but 11 games last year due to the injury, he
was named the Friday night starter for this year’s baseball
team.
“Coach Savage gave me the chance,” Ambriz said.
“I came to UCLA to be a starter. Coach Savage has taught me a
lot this year.”
“To improve, I just need to listen to coach, since he
obviously knows what he’s doing. More experience and the
coaching has caused me to have the season I’m having so
far.”
It’s no wonder that when a heralded coach, known for his
work with pitchers, is hired that the pitching staff improves
dramatically.
Savage, who coached major leaguers Barry Zito and Mark Prior at
USC, said Ambriz has the chance to be one of the best guys
he’s ever coached.
“He’s got big potential,” Savage said.
“His work ethic is so high. He just needs to remain
healthy.”
Savage has had an incredible effect on the pitching staff this
year. The team ERA is 3.78, and Brant Rustich, along with Ambriz,
has already thrown a shutout.
“I saw (Rustich) throw a shutout and I said, “˜I can
do that too,'” Ambriz said. “Having the other
guys pitching well has really helped me. They’ve been doing
so well that I’ve needed to step up. It’s my third year
here, so I have to be a leader.”
It’s lucky for the Bruins that Ambriz doesn’t have
trouble shouldering the burden of being a leader in the
batter’s box and on the mound.
If UCLA hopes to make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament, it
seems likely that it will be on Ambriz’s broad shoulders.
“He needs to be good for us to be good,” Savage
said. “The expectations are set high. We have to prepare him
as a pitcher and as a hitter.”
At practice, Ambriz has to put in the hours both in the bullpen
and in the batting cages. And as the ace of the staff, he has to
set an example for the team.
“His work ethic is very good,” catcher Chris Denove
said. “His accuracy is unparalleled and coach Savage really
taught him to harness his stuff. He gives everything he has on
Friday nights, and really sets an example as an older
guy.”
After this season, Ambriz will be draft eligible. If he’s
able to sustain the way he has played so far this season,
there’s little doubt that he will be a high draft pick. That
is, if he decides to enter the draft.
“Whatever happens, happens,” Ambriz said. “I
have two years of eligibility left so I have options.”
Ambriz prefers to focus on the present. With the Bruins picked
to finish eighth in the conference, Ambriz has led them to a 7-6
record so far. If all goes well from here, he hopes to lead them
even farther ““ the NCAA Tournament.
“My main goal is to make the Regional,” Ambriz said.
“I want us to do some damage.”