LJS: Edrington shooting at baseballs, not neutrons, this fall
The broken-in, brown Pro Preferred glove was still there. So were the spikes, the bat and the game.
Wes Edrington was rehabbing his left knee after surgery last fall. He was redshirting, learning to be a teammate and learning how to shoot neutrons in a Nebraska physics lab.
"We were working within the Nebraska physics lab, working with solid-state physics, working on a project for a professor who had a contract with the Department of Defense," Edrington said.
"I'm not majoring in eligibility, I want to get graduate degrees in physics and go on and have a job after baseball is over."
Baseball was long over for the better part of a year after Edrington, who started 26 games at shortstop his freshman year at Nebraska, was sidelined with the knee injury.
"I was away from baseball for almost three months - the first time in my life away from a game I started playing when I was 5," said the native of Fishers, Indiana.
Edrington tore an ACL when his spikes got caught in the infield during practice last fall. While recovering, he stopped by workouts, sat on the bench during home games and tried to follow the team on the radio when the Huskers were on the road.
"That lasted about a week. I couldn't stand to listen to the guys playing and not seeing the team play a game," Edrington said. "I'm supportive, but I was the only baseball player in town when they went on the road. So I caught up on my studies, strengthened my faith and worked on being a better teammate, a better friend, growing as a person."
Studies have always been important. Edrington, who graduated from high school in December 2012 and played for Nebraska two months later, started work on his majors of physics and math.
"No, I don't sit down and talk physics with Wes," NU coach Darin Erstad said. "I don't need to feel any dumber than I am. He is comfortable with that stuff. And he's good with that stuff, from looking at his grades."
As for growing in life and baseball, Erstad said Edrington is stronger than a year ago.
"He is hungry to play and he plays with a passion. His only problem coming back was that he was going 100 mph at the start. But he has settled in nicely and will help our team."
Edrington has been practicing this fall at shortstop and second base. The Huskers lost heavy-hitting second baseman Pat Kelly to the pros and return Steven Reveles at short. Jake Placzek, who played third and short last year, is also in contention, along with Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College transfer and Lincoln Pius X graduate Jake Schleppenbach.
"Everybody has a chance," Erstad said. "We're going to get everybody out there this fall and see where people fit in best."
Edrington has worked hard to improve his skills. He added 2 inches to his vertical jump and picked up time in his 10-yard sprint.
"I'm a lot stronger on the mental side because I understand that everything will be all right as long as you don't take things for granted," he said.
"I was guilty of that my first year here, taking things for granted. Now, I try to avoid being selfish with baseball. You know, checking in mentally with your teammates, asking how the day is going. Little things, but important things in being a teammate. I learned to stop worrying about my stats, myself, and started working with other people."
The Huskers will play three seven-inning intrasquad games in the annual Red-White series starting Sunday at 6 p.m., with an autograph session from 4:40 to 5:30 p.m.
The series continues Monday at 6 p.m. and the first 1,000 fans can purchase a hot dog for $1 and a Pepsi product for $1. The series concludes Tuesday at noon with the players in Halloween costumes. Admission is free and gates will be open two hours before Sunday's game and 90 minutes before the Monday and Tuesday games.
LJS: Edrington shooting at baseballs, not neutrons