He wears No. 1, so he is already at the top of the Seton Hill baseball roster. And he also leads off the batting order.
But senior outfielder Jack Whalen isn’t just No. 1 in your program. He now holds a top spot in the conference record book.
Whalen, a Norwin graduate, became the all-time steals leader in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference earlier this season with his 118th career swipe — a number that had grown to 133 in early April.
Veteran Griffins coach Marc Marizzaldi saw numerous likable qualities in Whalen when he recruited him four years ago. The base-stealing record is a bonus the Griffins didn’t exactly see coming.
Whalen was talented coming out of the WPIAL, but who knew he’d be a cornerstone type of player for a national Division II power?
“To be honest, we recruited him partly because his brother (Luke) went here, so we knew the family and knew he was a first-class kid,” Marizzaldi said. “He had been coming to our baseball camps since he was in Little League. And partly because he was a tremendous athlete, and we thought with some size and strength he could make an impact for us.”
But Whalen is more than somebody who leads off and steals bases.
This season, he reached 200 career hits and 100 RBIs and was nearing 100 runs scored.
“I can’t say I imagined to have some of the accomplishments that I’ve achieved in my career,” Whalen said. “Throughout my time at Seton Hill, I would only chase our team goals rather than focusing on what I’m achieving personally. That’s probably the reason why I didn’t expect any of these accomplishments and why they have honestly surprised me.”
Whalen said holding the school record for stolen bases carries the most meaning to him.
“As a team, we take pride in how we run the bases,” he said, “so to have that impact on the team definitely means a lot to me knowing it’s going to help us win games.”
Ever since his breakthrough freshman season, he has raised his level of play and expectation.
An all-region pick and the PSAC West Freshman of the Year three years ago when he stole a head-turning 52 bases, Whalen had 56 extra-base hits in 199 career games.
Through 31 games this season, he was 29 for 30 on steals for the Griffins (25-6), who are ranked No. 16 in the country and were set to open a four-game series against Pitt-Johnstown.
Marizzaldi said what makes Whalen a great base stealer are the same traits that make him a solid, all-around player.
“His fearlessness to compete every rep, and his understanding of the game,” the coach said. “Fans see what Jack does in games, the great defense and amazing catches, the stolen bases, the hits, but my joy has come in watching him practice. He sets the standard for our team, in just about everything.
“He leads vocally, always instructing teammates how things should be done. He leads by example, going all out on every play in practice. He sets the bar with his energy in the weight room and on the field. He brings a contagious positive attitude to practice every day. So, when game day comes, he doesn’t change a thing.”
Marizzaldi said Whalen is the ultimate practice-like-you-play guy, and has always had a great feel for the game. Records and accolades happen as a result of his approach.
“I have never seen anyone track a baseball in the outfield like Jack,” Marizzaldi said. “From the second it leaves the bat, I can tell whether he’s got it or not. He’s the best defensive outfielder I’ve ever coached. On the bases, his instincts are elite. He reads pitchers so well, and exposes defenders’ flaws all over the field, whether it be bunting for a base hit or stretching a routine single into double.”
Whalen said the art of stealing bases is far more than speed and a great jump.
“My speed and technique that we work on in practice almost every day definitely play a factor into stealing bases, but nothing is more important that having that fearless mindset that coach Maz instills in us,” he said. “At the end of the day, you have to believe that the pitcher and catcher are not quicker than you.”
Knowing the pitcher and catcher well from film study is where the prep starts for Whalen.
“And that is a collective effort from coach (Mike) Zito at first base,” Whalen said, “all the way to the guys charting in the dugout.”
Marizzaldi said Whalen’s sophomore season was a key building block to his career.
“I think he got humbled as a sophomore, performance-wise and with a hamstring injury late in the year,” Marizzaldi said. “That season humbled him and motivated him. I’ve seen him put all he has into the last two seasons. He never takes a rep off in practice. That approach has rubbed off on his teammates and it’s helped him play at a very high level.”