Just two weeks into the season, Ole Miss Junior Alex Yarbrough is proving this team is hungry. The Allen, Texas native leads the team in homers (2) and RBI (9) after seven games. The Rebels, now ranked in all three major polls and as high as No. 16, are poised for a stellar season behind the leadership of this veteran. Recently, we sat down with Yarbrough for a little Q&A.
By Carver Rayburn
TLV: iPhone, Android or Blackberry?
AY: iPhone.
Mac or PC? Mac
Favorite Major League team? Yankees.
Biggest Rival? LSU
What series are you looking forward to the most this year? I am really looking forward to the TCU series because it is only 45 minutes away from my home town. Then, the LSU series. It’s always a big series and we get them at home this year. I can’t wait for that one.
Will you have a lot of family at the TCU game? Yeah. I think around twelve people have said they will be there so far. Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles are all from the San Antonio area and plan to make the trip.
What is your role with the team this year? More of a leader. I had a good year in 2011 and this year I am in a position to be a leader that some of the younger guys can look to as someone who has experience on the field.
Compare this year’s squad to the 2011 Rebels. I think if anything, we have a lot more depth this year. We have a lot more quality arms on the mound. Really, at every position we have two and sometimes three guys that can step and play right now. I look for us to play well this year.
Want to be bold and make some predictions on the year? Better than last year for sure. We fully expect to be in the SEC Tournament, a Regional, and Super Regional. But, as far as an overall record? I have no idea. We are going to do the best we can. We have a great group of guys and we are going to do some great things this year.
Is this year you guys finally get over the hump and make it to Omaha? We really hope so. None of us can sit here and guarantee anything because you never know what is going to happen. We have so many talented guys and new faces that have gotten so much better since August when they got here. We can’t wait to get started.
What is the biggest weakness for this team? Since we have so many new faces, guys who are new are going to have step up and produce. Even though they haven’t experienced SEC play, I have full confidence in them and this team. We’ll get the job done.
Thoughts on the new rotation in the pitching staff? I got to play a lot with Bobby Wahl this past summer in the Cape Cod league and he had a phenomenal season up there and has done a great year transitioning into a starter. He has a different mentality now. RJ and Myers have had great strides this past fall. Hubert is a beast.
