Ten games, 30 at-bats, and zero hits to show for it. That stat line might discourage some hitters, but not Cougar junior catcher P.J. Jones. 

Despite an early-season slump, Jones remains optimistic that his hitting woes will turn into fortune soon. 

“It all speaks for itself. Hits aren’t really falling,” Jones said. “If you look at them, I’m having solid at-bats, and hitting balls just right at people. I can’t change that. That’s baseball. Eventually, hopefully they fall and hopefully sooner than later because I’d love to help this offense that’s starting to roll right now, and this offense is going to be pretty dangerous.”

Head Coach Donnie Marbut echoed that sentiment during his press conference on Tuesday. 

“P.J. is just having absolutely no luck, and I texted him last night telling him that I’m proud he’s sticking with it,” Marbut said. “He’s not bringing his offense to his defense, and as a catcher, he’s going to catch 150 pitches a game and he’s going to get four at-bats.”

It’s not that Jones has failed to get on base. He still has drawn walks and has been hit by pitches. He continues to put the ball in play, and he only has struck out six times. The baseball just hasn’t found a hole yet when it comes off of Jones’ bat. 

“It means you’re doing something right, and I can’t really complain about that,” Jones said about hitting the ball hard at defenders. “If I’m hitting it on the screws, I’m doing something right, and I’m comfortable up there, so it’s just how baseball works.”

Marbut described the scenario of parents calling to ask how their son played on a particular day. He said that question usually refers to how many hits someone had in the game, but Marbut said that isn’t an accurate way to evaluate the game of baseball.

In other words, Jones’ batting average does not indicate his value to the team, Marbut said. Jones still has driven in two runs this season. He has only committed one error on defense, which gives him a fielding percentage of .985. 

Jones talked about how as a catcher defense comes first. He wants to continue to lead the pitching staff behind the plate, even when he isn’t hitting as well as he would like to be hitting.

To put this slump in perspective, Jones hit .276 last season in 38 games. He had 37 hits including three doubles, a triple, and a home run. 

“He’s one of our best hitters, and I know he’s struggling right now,” Marbut said. “It’s hard as a coach to say he’s one of our best hitters, and he doesn’t have a hit, but I love P.J. He’s working hard, and it’s gonna work for him. He’s going to break out, and he’ll help us in a big, big way.”

Jones will get his next opportunity to hit when the Cougars play the Arizona Wildcats in a three-game series this weekend.