Jay Wladkowski: The Star of the Diamond
If you have looked on the BSU athletics website, you have probably seen star outfielder Jay Wladkowski. A senior, Wladkowski was the Bears’ student-athlete spotlight for April. Wladkowski is batting .299 with a .895 OPS. He also has four home runs this year, 30 runs batted in, and 13 extra-base hits.
Wladkowski’s 2022 season is tied for the most at-bats in a single season next to Matt Poitras, who had 169 in 1997. His 2022 also featured the fourth most hits in a single season in BSU Baseball history, with 66. He has the second most doubles in BSU history, with 42, only behind Steve Smith who played from 2005-2008. He also has the second most extra-base hits in a career with 56, also behind Smith, who has 78.
In an interview with The Comment, Wladkowski, a business major, says he’s loved the game for nearly his entire life. Wladkowski comes from a baseball family, and eventually, it was decided that he would continue to play the game in college. His brother Robbie plays baseball for Endicott, and both he and Jay got to face each other in the 2023 NCAA baseball regional, which was held at BSU. During his time at BSU, his Head Coach and teammates have raved about him, with Head Coach Greg Zackrison considering him, “one of the most talented players I’ve had in my coaching career” as part of Wladkowski’s student-athlete spotlight. Centerfielder Cam James recalled that when he and third baseman Kyle Suraci met Wladkowski, he was a pitcher, and they’ve been friends since. Likewise, Wladkowski says, “They mean everything” and that he “couldn’t have asked for a better group of guys.”
To prepare for a game, Wladkowski says he likes to, “get some sort of food in my body.“ Wladkowski also does things such as, “Play catch, stretch, batting practice, and then after batting practice, pretty much just get ready for the game, do whatever you need to do mentally.” He also states, “I’ll usually just sit in the dugout, kind of just, waiting. I know a lot of other guys like to keep moving around, I like to kind of just chill for a few minutes” As for a message to current and future players, Wladkowski says, “Enjoy every moment, and once you’re in the situation, just do everything you can to make it last as long as you want.”
