No matter position, all offensive players should strive to hit for average

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The easy part is the math.

Take the amount of hits and divide it by the number of official at bats.

Presto. A batting average, which some believe to be one of the most important stats in baseball, is formed.

Coming up with an average is simple but having a good average? That's the hard part.

Just ask University of New Mexico head coach Ray Birmingham.

"Hitting a baseball and hitting it where you want is still the hardest thing to do in all of sports," said Birmingham, who has had major success in team batting average during his years at New Mexico Junior College and UNM. "The technique is hard to master and the mental part is something you can't really teach."

Just like speed, arm strength, fielding and hitting for power, the tool of hitting for average is a crucial aspect of a player's game when it comes to recruiting.

"It could very well be the most important offensive tool," Birmingham said. "But if you have all five (tools) you're a star."

Birmingham has been recruiting contact hitters his entire career. He loves loading his lineup with hitters who can hit to all fields.

On five different occasions he has had a player on his team lead the country in batting average, including this past season when Justin Howard hit a staggering .456.

"We in the baseball community are leaving the power age," Birmingham said. "And I am all for that. Everyone loves a home run hitter to sell tickets, but I am all for a guy who can hit for average."

Getting noticed at the plate

How can you become tagged as a player who hits for average?

"The first thing I look for when I go recruit is see if a kid can just make contact," Birmingham said. "Then I want to see his hand speed. I want to see how he handles the bat. Does he look comfortable? Does he swing at good pitches? How good is the pitching he is facing? A lot of things go into it."

There are many ways to hit for average and for college coaches, it's not hard to spot the players who can and cannot hit.

"We can tell pretty quickly who can hit," University of Texas head coach Augie Garrido said. "Batting average is really just a number attached to your performance. We don't look at the number as much as you think, but it's fairly easy to see who can hit for average and who can't."

Garrido said the best way to tell is to see if a batter can attack all pitch locations and hit to all fields.

If the ball is pitched outside, try dumping a line drive into the opposite field.

If the ball is pitched on the inside part of the plate, try pulling the ball.

If the pitch is down the middle, try driving the ball in centerfield.

"It's all about having a quality at bat," said Garrido, who has won five national titles. "You can't just go up there and start swinging and expect to get hit after hit. You have to be able to separate the pitches you can hit and the pitches you can't hit. And when you find that pitch let the ball location help you decide where you want to hit it. If you can do that you are on your way."

Birmingham also keeps his eyes on the players who bunt or hustle for infield singles.

"Don't be afraid to bunt the ball," Birmingham said. "No one ever likes to bunt anymore and the truth is if you can learn to bunt well or run out infield singles with a little extra effort you are going to add 100 points to your batting average. Coaches will take notice of kids who do that."

Birmingham also said it doesn't matter what position you play to hit for average. Gone are the days when the corner infielders are just relied on for power. Gone are the days when the middle infielders are relied on just for singles and steals.

"It's not like that anymore," Birmingham said. "Now, if you can hit and you can hit for average it doesn't matter what position you play. Someone will find a place for you to play no matter what."

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