The most impressive number from center fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker isn't his .428 batting average.
It isn't his 25 stolen bases or his .540 on-base percentage.
Hazelbaker's most amazing number can't be found on a stat sheet.
The comfort level for the junior during his phenomenal season is only about a seven.
"With my comfort level this summer and this season, I've learned how to have fun with the game," Hazelbaker said. "My confidence has just skyrocketed."
Hazelbaker is enjoying one of the best seasons for a Ball State University baseball player after a below-average start to his career. One of the things attributed to his turnaround is a change in positions from second base to center field, where Hazelbaker had never played before.
"He shows up with a different energy and confidence," coach Greg Beals said. "It has allowed him to relax and play."
As Hazelbaker becomes more comfortable on the field, the better he seems to hit.
In two seasons at Ball State, he was a career .246 hitter before the decision was made to move him to the outfield. Hazelbaker was a third baseman at Wapahani High School and primarily played second base for the Cardinals. It wasn't a good fit and Hazelbaker made 31 errors in his first two seasons, leading the team over that period.
He began the transition during summer ball when he was an All-Star with Licking County of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. He said no one really worked with him in the outfield during the summer, leaving his outfield instruction to Ball State assistant coach Alex Marconi.
"He taught me a lot of mechanics," Hazelbaker said. "Beals has helped me out as well. If I have questions, usually I bring it to both of them and get both their opinions."
Beals said he moved Hazelbaker to the outfield to take better advantage of his abilities.
"It's allowed him to use his speed which is his number one skill," Beals said. "It's enabled him to be more himself as an outfielder than as an infielder."
Hazelbaker is allowing his speed to be more of a factor on offense as well. After stealing 13 bases in two years, he has swiped 25 in the first 37 games of the season. Though he stole home as the front end of a delayed double steal this season, Hazelbaker said he wants to try a straight steal of home.
"It's something I've wanted to do for a long time," he said. "It just hasn't happened yet. Hopefully it will soon, though."
Stealing bases isn't the only place where Hazelbaker's speed helps him.
"It's got me out of a few tough situations," Hazelbaker said. "I've got quite a few singles and a handful of infield hits."
Speed is also the reason Beals thinks Hazelbaker can become the first Cardinal to hit .400 since 2003 when Marco Franz hit .410 and Brad Snyder hit .405.
"His speed allows him to beat out ground balls," Beals said. "He doesn't have to bang the ball all the time to get hits."
Even Hazelbaker isn't sure how he improved nearly .200 points on his batting average, but he thinks he's just being a smarter hitter.
"I thought I was a pull hitter," Hazelbaker said. "Now I'm focused more on hitting it up the middle. It's a whole different mentality."
Hazelbaker may not have to bang the ball, but he has plenty of pop for a leadoff hitter. He has six home runs and has power to all parts of the ball park. In the series opener against Central Michigan University, Hazelbaker rocketed a ball over the wall in dead center for a two-run home run.
But for a leadoff hitter, on-base percentage is arguably the most important statistic. Hazelbaker's mark of .540 is one of the best in the country and would set the Ball State record.
With such gaudy numbers on a scouting report, opposing teams seem to be paying more attention to the Cardinals' leadoff hitter. Hazelbaker went 2-for-10 in a weekend series against Bowling Green State University, but drew four walks. He attributes some of that to being a more patient hitter, but Central Michigan made its approach more obvious in their series April 17-18.
"[It] was the first time I remember a team bringing in a pitcher just to face me," Hazelbaker said.
In the first game of their doubleheader on April 18, the Chippewas brought in Matt Loomis, a left-hander, to face the left-handed hitting Hazelbaker. Hazelbaker singled off Loomis, who was removed before facing another batter.
In addition to opposing coaches, Hazelbaker is catching the eye of Major League scouts. He has met with advisers about the June draft, but said he has thought about it only as much as he has to.
"I'm still working to get my name out there," Hazelbaker said.
After one meeting, however, Hazelbaker allowed himself to reflect on the situation.
"I just looked at my parents and was like 'Did you ever think your son would have an adviser/agent?'" he said. "They both kind of smiled at me. My mom's always been really positive and she said 'I knew it was going to happen sometime.'"
Beals said it is too early to know when Hazelbaker's name will be called on draft day.
"He's going to be drafted for sure," Beals said. "There's been quite a bit of attention."
If Hazelbaker is drafted, he will extend Ball State's streak to 11 consecutive years of having a player drafted.
Until the draft comes on June 9, Hazelbaker will keep working to stay on top of his game and as comfortable as possible.
"I just constantly keep working," he said. "I have to keep the mental part of my game the same. I always have to keep working on the same things and the same approach."
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