Walking up, walking on, and getting on base
Greyson Bogden talks hitting and coming to UVU
Every time a batter steps into the box, they’re engaged in a manner of psychological warfare with a pitcher. Guessing what pitch is coming, where it will be. There’s a certain process that hitters go through to prepare themselves for that moment; routine is everything. UVU shortstop Greyson Bogden is a little unconventional in his approach as the slow jam “White Iverson” by Post Malone plays over the PA system when he digs into the batter’s box.
“I’ve always had kind of a slow-pace walk-up just because it kind of [mellows] me out, because sometimes I get a little too sped up in the box,” Bogden said. “So with a more slow tempo walk-up it kind of keeps me calm and helps me just focus on what I need to focus on.”
Coming out of Riverton High School, Bogden wasn’t highly recruited, but worked his way onto UVU’s roster with an invitation from coach Eric Madsen.
“I actually went to a lot of showcase camps,” Bogden said. “I had some interest, but nothing really serious. Then I came to a camp here over the summer my senior year. Eric told me I could come walk on for that next following fall.”
Photo courtesy of UVU Athletics.
Now a senior, Bogden leads the team among regular starters with a .333 batting average through 25 games and muscled out a six-game hitting streak that started March 11 against the Portland Pilots and ended March 22 against the Arizona Wildcats. Hitting third in the lineup, Bogden knows it’s important for him to reach base any way possible.
“Obviously I’m trying to get on base every at-bat anyway I can, whether it’s hit-by-pitch, base-on-balls, or whether I get a hit,” Bogden said. “But I’m looking to drive the ball every at-bat. I want to hit the ball in the gap for a double. I want to drive it.”
Bogden’s streak led to his earning the Western Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week honors for the week of March 21.
“It was awesome,” Bogden said. “It was a really good experience. That whole week I felt really locked in and it felt up at the plate I was seeing the ball well. There are so many good hitters out in the WAC that it was a good honor to be able to be picked WAC Hitter of the Week and everyone around me was excited. It was a good time.”
I’m a Pacific Northwest guy who loves his Pacific Northwest sports. An amateur movie buff who prefers the disc to digital. Chasing the sports writing dream while I geek out on Assassin’s Creed.