“color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;”>Xavier Macklin, former A&T outfielder and hitting machine, is slowly but surely beginning to prove he belongs in the big leagues.
Xavier Macklin,
former A&T outfielder and hitting machine, is slowly but surely
beginning to prove he belongs in the big leagues.
The new
professional was drafted in his junior season by the Vermont Lake
Monsters, a Single-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. He was
selected
“background-attachment: initial !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; background-position-x: 50%; background-position-y: 100%;”>376th
in the 12th round of the 2011 First-Year Major League Baseball
Player Draft.
“Playing
with the Lake Monsters has been a great experience,”
said
“background-attachment: initial !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; background-position-x: 50%; background-position-y: 100%;”>Macklin
“I’ve been meeting new people, getting to know my teammates, and
playing a bunch of baseball. I love every minute
of
“background-attachment: initial !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; background-position-x: 50%; background-position-y: 100%;”>it.”
The
Vermont Lake Monsters currently have a 32-28 overall record,
with
“background-attachment: initial !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; background-position-x: 50%; background-position-y: 100%;”>Macklin
in 41 of those games. He is averaging just .233 batting, and has 12
RBI total, 8 runs total, and no
“background-attachment: initial !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; background-position-x: 50%; background-position-y: 100%;”>homeruns
but he continues to show gradual improvement each game..
The Rocky
Mount native led last year’s Aggie baseball team in runs,
RBIs,
“background-attachment: initial !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; background-position-x: 50%; background-position-y: 100%;”>homeruns
and slugging percentage. He is also impressively nationally ranked
2nd in
“background-attachment: initial !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; background-position-x: 50%; background-position-y: 100%;”>homeruns
3rd in slugging percentage, and 10th in RBIs. However, playing on
the professional level has proven to be a tougher task.
“It was
pretty difficult at first [adjusting from playing collegiate
baseball to professional baseball]. It went from being half
baseball, half school to all baseball. It wears on you physically
and mentally. But I feel I’ve adjusted well,” he
continued.
“I’ve
followed his progress. It’s an adjustment going from medal to wood
as far as college and the professional level are concerned,” said
A&T’s Assistant Coach Austin Love, who played on the Aggie
baseball team from 1999-2004. “He’s one of the best we’ve ever had
to play here, and I hope he goes as far as he’s capable
of
“background-attachment: initial !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; background-position-x: 50%; background-position-y: 100%;”>going.”
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Macklin was a Sports
Science major at N. C. A&T when he decided to leave college
early and sign with Oakland Athletics.
“I made
the decision to leave early because this was the opportunity of a
lifetime. You don’t want to be left thinking “what if”, so I just
jumped at the opportunity…I feel I made the right decision, but I
do plan on finishing school,” said
“background-attachment: initial !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; background-position-x: 50%; background-position-y: 100%;”>Macklin
as he emphasized that A&T would always be available for him to
return
“background-attachment: initial !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; background-position-x: 50%; background-position-y: 100%;”>to.”
Among “background-attachment: initial !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; background-position-x: 50%; background-position-y: 100%;”>Macklin’s many
collegiate honors and awards, he was recently selected to the 2011
American Baseball Coaches Association/ Rawlings NCAA Division I
All-Atlantic Region Second Team. He was also a 2011 North Carolina
Collegiate Sports Information Association All-State selection, and
received First Team
“background-attachment: initial !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; background-position-x: 50%; background-position-y: 100%;”>All-MEAC
his freshman, sophomore, and junior season.
“I’m
living my dream. Just that alone keeps me humbled and motivated to
keep
“background-attachment: initial !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; background-position-x: 50%; background-position-y: 100%;”>pushing.”
- Karmen Robinson, Sports Editor