STARKVILLE — There was a point in the season when Mississippi State shortstop Jonathan Ogden led the Southeastern Conference in errors.
His struggles in the field were surprising considering MSU coach John Cohen”s constant affirmation of his senior shortstop”s defensive prowess and reputation as the team”s best defender.
Turns out, Ogden was battling an abdominal injury that limited his mobility, forced him to do less in the weight room, and required Cohen to do the unthinkable: rest Ogden for a game at the University of Tennessee.
Ogden said the pain has been off and on, but when it”s on, it”s constant.
“It”s been good the last couple of days,” Ogden said Wednesday. “It hasn”t bothered me too much. But I”m not gonna sit here and make any excuses for this pain. I don”t think it”s kept me from playing at the potential I know I can play at.”
As much as Ogden tries to downplay the injury, Cohen acknowledges it even more because Ogden won”t show it on the field. Cohen has to watch Ogden closely for the slightest grimace in games and during practice.
Ogden”s gift and curse is he goes full speed, even in pre-game day batting practice, Cohen said.
“He would rather play hurt than not play at all,” Cohen said. “We”re just taking (batting practice) today, that kid will dive after balls full speed. He is almost in a football type of physical (mold), just getting beat up. He”s one of the few kids I”ve ever had where we”ve had to discourage from going all-out sometimes because he just beats himself up.”
If there”s an added byproduct of Ogden”s hustle and willingness to play through pain, it”s the example he has set for the team”s freshmen and underclassmen.
Ogden”s backup is freshman Adam Frazier, who, if it weren”t for his stellar play, wouldn”t have been trusted by Cohen to deputize for the ailing Ogden. Freshman DeMarcus Henderson is also on the depth chart at shortstop.
Next year, the Bulldogs will have to replace four senior infield starters and two senior catchers.
Setting an example for what will be a new infield next season is vital, Cohen said.
“Ogden is like having a coach on the field,” Cohen said. “He”s always in the right spot and communicating the right things.”
Fighting through adversity, as overused as the sports cliché might be, is nothing new for Ogden. Though his all-out, 24-7 work ethic is just the way he”s built, he recognizes his impact on the younger players.
“I”ve had great coaching all the way through high school, junior college, and here,” he said. “I”ve always given it everything I had at practice. For a little guy, I always had to fight hard, scratch and claw my way to a starting position. I”ve never felt like it”s OK to take a step back here at practice. Any situation I come across in practice, I”ll see in a game sometime.”
Ogden is getting back in the saddle at the right time: He has played four straight error-free games and is 5-for-12 in that stretch
Entering the weekend series against LSU, Ogden”s production from the leadoff spot will help the Bulldogs maintain their effectiveness with runners in scoring position. MSU is averaging six and a half RBIs per game in its past nine games (8-1). The Bulldogs averaged three and a half RBIs in their previous nine.
Ogden has been a key contributor, scoring seven runs in the past four games.
“I don”t know if I”ve ever seen a young man improve offensively as much in one year as Jonathan Ogden,” Cohen said. “Last year, he struck out a lot and he”s getting huge hits for Mississippi State a year later. A lot of that is due to the amount of work he”s put into his swing. He”s one of the hardest working kids I”ve ever been around.”
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