Slow.
That’s the word the Colorado Mesa’s outfielder Bligh Madris writes on his bat every single game. It’s what he tells himself as he makes his way to the batter’s box. And so far, it’s worked.
“It’s a rush but you just have to learn how to slow down and breathe,” Madris said. “It’s just little routines like that you’ve got to stay intact and it helps you stay slow.”
Madris planned on heading to Utah University to continue his baseball career when he received a phone call informing him that his scholarship was going to be given away to a junior college transfer athlete. With that in mind, Madris had two weeks to find a new school.
“It was a tough place to get recruited out of,” Madris said of playing high school ball in Las Vegas, Nev. “There’s only two big D-1’s and they don’t offer in-state kids scholarships […] I was original verbally committed to Utah […] I just sat down at Bergman one day after I got my offer, I walked out of the clubhouse 10 minutes later, I verballed right there on Bergman field and there was no looking back from there.”
During the four-game series against Dixie State early last year Madris was tasked with laying down a sacrifice bunt to move a runner over. Little did he know that game would be his last of the year.
“I was going to bunt and the kid threw up and in and I didn’t get out of the way and it hit this part of my finger,” Madris said while pointing to the front of his index finger, “and jammed it so far back it broke my knuckle. I popped it back in continued playing for that day and after that I just couldn’t put my hand in a glove anymore and found out I needed to have surgery.”
After sitting out the 2016 year Madris joined a summer ball team, the Kansas Cannons, where he played for coach Rod Stevenson. Sitting out more than 10 weeks and with zero repetitions, the expectations entering summer ball weren’t high. The results? Kansas Collegiate Player of the Year, co-MVP of the All-Star game and Home Run Derby champion.
“[He’s] a great kid. Lots of enthusiasm. He’s definitely a gamer. [A] very talented young man,” Rod Stevenson, manager of the Kansas Cannons, said of coaching Madris this summer. “I knew he was a pretty good sized kid and his reputation was strong but coming off an injury like I didn’t know really what to expect […he’s a] pretty humble kid, he’s not going to blow his own horn you know, we’ll blow it for him and that’s the right way.”
With injuries comes struggle. The struggle for Madris was sitting in the dugout every game and only being able to shag balls in the outfield. Madris had grown close with senior players was excited to battle with them day in and day out and that opportunity was cut short. The time to think and process has only attributed to the on-field performance that Madris has displayed this spring for the Mavericks.
“I saw the game from a different perspective. I saw it from almost a coaching perspective from sitting on the side and watching the guys do their work,” Madris said.
The repetitions that Madris received during his summer league have quickly translated into success this spring. Madris finds himself leading the Mavericks offense on the year as he ranks in the top five in eight of the major statistical categories in the conference.
Batting Average: 1st; .456
Slugging Percentage 1st; .802
On Base Percentage 2nd .512
Hits 1st; 52
RBIs t-4th; 29
Doubles t-5th; 10
Triples t-3rd; 3
Home Runs t-2nd; 8
And those are only his numbers while standing in the batter’s box. Madris frequently enters the game in late game situations on the mound to help finish games off.
“I like to see myself as a huge competitor when it comes down to that, just shutting the door. Even if were up eight runs or a close game. It’s a rush. I love it […] It’s just another chance to compete,” Madris said of pitching in relief.
While continuing to be competitive Madris notes that the Mavericks look at their season in stints. Setting goals that are within reach is what’s keeping the team motivated. The goal right now is to host another regional. With teams like St. Edwards, Texas A&M Kingsville and Angelo State in the South Central regional, Madris understands that they’ll have to be locked in when that time comes.
“We definitely haven’t peaked yet as a team. We haven’t peaked as a pitching staff, we haven’t peaked as hitters […] Once we all sync together and just all get on the same page, it’s going to be something fun to watch,” Madris said.
Madris continued his torrid 2017 campaign this weekend as he helped the Mavericks to four game sweep of New Mexico Highlands. Including going 7-15 with two home runs, a double, four runs driven in and five runs scored. On his current pace, expect Madris to receive votes for the RMAC Player of the Year when the time comes around.
As for his potential plans after collegiate baseball, Madris looks to continue playing professionally. And he’s not the only one who thinks it’s possible.
“He’s certainly draft worthy. I think he could get drafted reasonably high depending on who’s got their eyeballs on him […] I think he’s got a real shot at doing something,” Stevenson said.
