Arizona junior first basemanΒ JJ MatijevicΒ appears to have a firm lead on becoming the Pac-12βs 2017 baseball player of the year. Why not? Through Friday, he leads the Pac-12 in hitting (.400) and RBIs (60). Oregon StateβsΒ Nick Madrigal, who plays for the nationβs No. 1 team, is likely Matijevicβs closest pursuer; Madrigal is hitting .385 with 26 RBIs. Arizona has produced seven Pac-12 baseball players of the year:Β Terry Francona, 1980;Β Chip Hale, 1987;Β Alan ZinterΒ andΒ Scott Erickson, 1989;Β Trevor Crowe, 2005;Β Alex Mejia, 2012; andΒ Scott Kingery, 2015.Β
Arizona's JJ Matijevic likely to be named Pac-12 Player of the Year
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Greg Hansen
Columnist
- Updated
Arizona infielder JJ Matijevic (24) sprinkles dirt down his arm, an ode to the YouTube butcher sensation "Salt Bae", after notching a fourth-inning double during the Arizona Wildcats vs. Oregon Ducks college baseball game on April 15, 2017, at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, Ariz. Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Greg Hansen
Columnist
