It’s easy to spot the slugger with the big power numbers or the crafty righty with an electric fastball, but it’s often the little things not reflected in the stat sheet that can make the difference between a good player and a great one.
Cal Poly utility man Adam Buschini played the entire 2006-07 season at first base with a torn ligament in his elbow despite sharp pains that seared through his arm each time he threw, he said.
“That’s what separates (the good players from the great players); it just says a lot of who Adam Buschini is and how important this game and his team is to him,” Mustangs head coach Larry Lee said.
The redshirt junior had Tommy John surgery in August of 2007 and was sidelined for 18 months. And for someone like Buschini, that’s no easy task.
“It was tough because there were a bunch of ups and downs but I think it made me a better player,” said Buschini, who has played every year since he was four. “I matured more as a player and realized how lucky I am to play. This time last year I was pretty down, I wanted to help out the team.”
Buschini is no stranger to injuries. During his senior year of high school he suffered a concussion after getting kicked in the head during a soccer game. Earlier this season he took a pitch off the knuckle of his throwing hand, which sidelined him for a couple weeks.
Yet, Buschini said watching so much baseball made him more mentally resilient by slowing down the game. When his arm was recovering from surgery, he focused on improving speed and agility, an asset that separates the former high school soccer star both defensively and offensively, Lee said.
“From a defensive standpoint he has a good glove, quick transfer and release and a great first step — he accelerates,” explained Lee, adding that his range and quick hands were eye-opening. “If you watch him from an offensive standpoint, he’s at full speed in a short period of time.”
Aside from leading the Big West in batting average (.407) and slugging percentage (.687), Buschini also boasts an impressive defensive repertoire with the ability to play first, second, short, third and the outfield — pretty much wherever the Mustangs need him.
“I like playing different positions, (whatever) helps out the team,” Buschini said. “Some people don’t like (playing multiple positions) but I don’t mind it. It’s hard to juggle, I’ve been going in early to practice and coach has been hitting me a bunch of fly balls.”
Buschini has had the difficult task of filling in for freshman second baseman and offensive powerhouse Matt Jensen, who is out for the remainder of the season with a fractured clavicle.
“For the guy to have the ability to play all positions is very important at this level,” Lee said. “If you are good defensive high school shortstop, you are probably able to play any position on the field.”
The Mustangs will also rely on Buschini to fill the void Jensen left at the plate.
“He has to be the leader of the offensive group, be the one that everyone else around him can feed off of,” Lee said. “He needs to be the guy to come up with the clutch hit and be a force in middle of lineup. If he can do that, everyone has tendency to follow suit.”
Growing up, Buschini performed under the shadow of his older brother who was an All-American at the University of San Diego and played for the Padres last year. His brother still gives him tips regarding the mechanics of his swing, such as shortening his swing and not thinking so much when stepping into the box.
“That’s when I run into trouble,” he said.
The agricultural business junior choses to echo his coach’s stoicism through leading his team by example, adding that his team isn’t much of a “ra-ra” team.
“(He) doesn’t say a lot, he just goes out and plays hard,” Lee said.
The Mustangs have battled through injuries with solid bench play and each player understanding his role, Lee said.
“I think players know what their roles are and stay within the confines of (those) roles,” Lee said. “It has been a great team to be around and they know how to win.”
Only a three-game series remains in Cal Poly’s season against conference foes University of California, Riverside. According to BoydsWorld.com, the Mustangs have the 28th toughest schedule in the nation and an RPI of 39, two noteworthy statistics in regards to a playoff berth.