Jake Gelof downplays pressure of getting extra attention

Virginia slugger Jake Gelof swings for the fences every time he comes up to bat. And when he connects, odds are he’s been sending the ball deep. The slugger has been one of the most dominant power hitters in all of college baseball during the 2023 campaign. He’s played a critical role in propelling the Cavaliers to the 2023 College World Series. So far this season, he’s belted 23 home runs, while driving in 89 RBIs. His 23 home runs shattered the Cavaliers’ single-season home run record, and his 89 RBIs broke his own single season RBI record. Even though he knows he’s got extra attention on him, Gelof doesn’t feel any added pressure.

“I wouldn’t really describe it as pressure,” Gelof began. “I just say we go out there, and we play baseball, me and him. A bunch of these guys on this team have been playing baseball all their lives, so we’ve been equipped our whole lives, and especially once getting here, like I said in the fall and early spring and at the start of the season, throughout the whole season.”

Gelof has firmly cemented his status as one of the best players in Cavalier baseball history. He’s currently Virginia’s career leader in home runs (48) and RBIs (185). The slugger recently became the program’s fourth two-time NCBWA All-American. He earned first team All-American honors this season, while bringing in third team All-American honors last year.

Virginia leads the nation in doubles, with the Cavaliers lineup smacking 169 this year, 14 more than the next closest team. In a ballpark where a lot of would-be home runs become doubles, Virginia could be well suited to taking extra bases in Omaha.

Past Omaha experience will be big for Virginia, too

Key players on the 2023 Virginia squad like catcher Kyle Teel and Gelof were also on the 2021 team that made it to Omaha. Just having them around to explain to younger players what to expect has utility, Virginia head coach Brian O’Connor explained.

“I certainly think it helps having players that have played in Omaha before. And the couple of guys that we have had do that were integral in that run in ’21 and our performance in Omaha. And having them understand and be able to share with their teammates about the feelings they’re going to have, standing on that field on Friday night at 6 p.m. when they play the national anthem in front of the largest crowd they’ve ever played in before, having experience doing that and them being able to share it with their teammates is really important,” O’Connor said.

On3’s Andrew Graham also contributed to this article.