Chase Keng, University of Texas-San Antonio baseball right fielder and home run slugger, plans to showcase his talent this season
SAN ANTONIO 鈥� Chase Keng is no stranger to garnering attention for his baseball prowess.聽 The University of Texas-San Antonio right fielder has been showcased in the media since he was in high school when he was named the Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston Hitter of the Year.聽 He led his high school team to the 2017 Class 6A State Championship, as well.
Keng (pronounced King), is a lefty and is a redshirt senior due to 2020鈥檚 shortened season, and all players were offered an additional year of eligibility.
UTSA Head Coach Pat Hallmark said, 鈥淐hase handled adversity so well, so he鈥檒l always have a special place for me.聽 It鈥檚 very unique to see people deal with adversity admirably like he did.鈥澛犅�
However, even with a shorter season in 2020, sports reporters still saw Chase鈥檚 incredible talent on the diamond.
Chase, 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, led the Roadrunners in 2020 with two triples, and he ranked among club leaders in doubles, games played, at-bats, runs, hits and RBIs. In 2021, Keng played 34 games with 30 starts; he had a .592 slugging percentage with a .397 on-base percentage; and he had a 15-18 walk-strikeout ratio in C-USA play with a .400 on-base percentage and a .624 slugging mark.聽
Coach Hallmark talked about Keng鈥檚 strong determination and hard work saying, 鈥淐hase has worked as hard as any player I鈥檝e coached and spent tons of time in the cages.聽 He鈥檚 made some adjustments hitting, and last year that work paid off.聽 His plate discipline has become a weapon for him.鈥澛犅�
Keng鈥檚 hitting coach, Ryan Aguayo, said, 鈥淐hase Keng is someone I love having in our program.聽 He embodies what we want our players to be.聽 Tough, hard-working and high-character on and off the field.聽 For example, when we first got to UTSA back in 2019, I told Chase any time you want extra work, you tell me and I will be there.聽 He literally texted me every day in the fall wanting to get better.聽 As a coach, you love that and you want to be around players like that all the time.鈥�
Keng may very well not need that extra year of eligibility if he continues to play with the same ferocity as he did during the 2021 season.聽 Last season proved Chase is a top NCAA player and a qualified and talented choice for the MLB draft. 聽 He was awarded the Collegiate Baseball鈥檚 National Player of the Week, powered by Diamond Sports, in 2021 after three聽 home runs and a double with nine RBIs.聽 He was also awarded National Player of the Week by @CBNewspaper, and he was named Player of the Game聽 for that same game.
According to Coach Hallmark, 鈥淐hase will come into next season having proven he鈥檚 a top Division I hitter.聽 He has big goals for himself that I think are worthy and attainable.聽 We鈥檒l (Coach Hallmark and Ryan Aguayo, UTSA Hitting Coach) try and keep him relaxed (this season) and not feeling like he has to do too much.聽 The 鈥榯ake鈥� and the 鈥榖ase on balls鈥� will be as important to his success as all the actual base hits.鈥�
Coach Aguayo added, 鈥淭he work he has put in was very evident in his offensive production last year.聽 His determination hasn鈥檛 stopped, and we are looking for him to have the same success and more this upcoming season.聽 He鈥檚 continuing to grow as a ball player, student and leader in our program.鈥�
Chase definitely has some big goals for his future in baseball, as he should based on his history.聽 鈥淏aseball has always been a huge part of my life ever since I was young,鈥� Keng said. 鈥淚t has been something I have done almost every day for the past 18 years.聽 The hard work has paid off to get to the point of where I鈥檓 at now.鈥�
The UTSA baseball team and coaches are anticipating a strong season this spring.聽聽
鈥淭he team looks like we have the potential to be very good this year,鈥� Keng said. 鈥淲e have been hitting the cover off the ball so far this fall, and we have a good core ground of returning players with a lot of experience under their belts.聽 We are just ready to get out there and play.鈥�
Chase Keng believes that baseball is life. He has proven that he is extremely talented in his chosen sport. The University of Texas-San Antonio Roadrunner鈥檚 fan base is certainly excited to see what he brings to the diamond this spring. Who knows?聽 Keng鈥檚 outstanding slugging style and increasing strength and endurance could lead him directly into the Majors.
The fans will be watching. The MLB scouts will be watching, as well.
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