Feb. 27, 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After being retired only three times in 12 plate appearances during a three-game weekend sweep, Kentucky junior outfielder Zac Zellers has been selected Southeastern Conference Player of the Week, it was announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.
A native of St. Louis, Zellers put together a monster weekend for the Wildcats, batting .667 (6-for-9) during the weekend with a double, triple, two homers and five RBI. The 6-foot, 185-pound right-handed hitter, Zellers reached base safely in 9-of-12 plate appearances on the weekend, with a .750 on-base percentage and a 1.667 slugging mark. Zellers drew a walk and was hit by two pitches during the weekend without striking out.
Zellers got his weekend going on Friday with his first career homer in the home-opening win over Buffalo. On Saturday, Zellers came off the bench after freshman centerfielder Austin Cousino was pulled from the lineup due to a minor injury and as a precaution. Zellers responded by going 3-for-3 with his second consecutive game with a homer. In the series finale, Zellers went 2-for-3 with a three-RBI triple which gave the Wildcats a lead in the sixth inning. After UK allowed the game-tying runs to score in the top of the ninth inning on Sunday, Zellers led off the bottom of the frame with a walk, scoring the walk-off run with two outs.
A 2011 first-team National Junior College Association of America All-American outfielder at Heartland CC. During his two-year career at Heartland, Zellers starred, including a .431 average in 2011 with eight homers, 67 RBI and a school-record 51 stolen bases. In his first four career games at UK, Zellers owns a team-leading .583 (7-for-12) average with a double, triple, two homers and five RBI, drawing one walk with a .667 on-base percentage and a 1.333 slugging mark.
The SEC Player of the Week accolade is the first for a UK player since Taylor Black was named SEC Player of the Week during the second week of the 2011 season. Former UK star pitcher Alex Meyer was named SEC Pitcher of the Week twice in 2011, with Corey Littrell and J.T. Riddle each earning one SEC Freshman of the Week accolade a year ago.
Zellers is the first UK junior college player to earn SEC Player of the Week honors in his first year at UK since catcher Sean Coughlin was named SEC Player of the Week on April 10, 2006 during UK’s 44-win SEC Championship season.
Kentucky (6-0) returns to its homestand on Tuesday, hosting Morehead State at 4 p.m. ET at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on the UK IMG Radio Network, with the Voice of UK Baseball, Neil Price, calling the action. Fans in Lexington can hear the game live on WGVN 1580-AM and online at UKathletics.com.
