By Gabe Schapiro As much as he thrived in college, the transition to professional baseball can often be a difficult one.
“There’s definitely a different mentality,” Boggan noted. “I was extremely nervous and didn’t know what to expect. You’re going up against men, not college kids anymore. It’s a little overwhelming at first, but you get the hang of it.”After a stop with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League in 2013, Boggan came to the Admirals last year. There may have been some underlying nerves, but it didn’t translate to the field, and he more than just got the hang of it.Boggan introduced himself to Admirals fans with hits in 12 of his first 14 games with the club, quickly making himself a home in the heart of the lineup. That would prove to just be a preview of what was to come.
Playing in 73 of the Admirals 78 games, Boggan finished the season leading the team in at bats, hits, doubles, home runs, and RBI, while finishing in the top three in nearly every other category. League wide he finished third in average, and second in home runs and RBI. He had four separate hitting streaks of eight games or more, and finished the season on a 12-game streak.
That 12-game stretch at the end of the year was possibly his best of the entire season. It was all the more impressive because not only was he coming up huge when the Admirals needed it most, as they made a title push, he was doing it while slugging his way through the flu.
“I think that I play better when I’m sick,” Boggan says, only half-jokingly. “It helps take your mind off of everything. You’re more worried about not throwing up on the field. In high school it was the same way. For one game, I had a 105 degree temperature, but my dad wouldn’t let me miss a game, and I ended up hitting a home run.”
And Boggan’s parents don’t like to miss a game either. It’s one of the advantages of playing close to home for Boggan. “It’s really nice, having that family support,” Boggan said. “They came up almost every weekend. It’s great having them there, and great for after games, getting to go out and eat with them.”
With one great season in the books, opposing pitchers should be on notice: Boggan didn’t take the offseason off. He has spent it training in a gym near his home, which is run by one of the Baltimore Orioles trainers, along with the Strength and Conditioning coach of their AAA team, the Norfolk Tides. In addition, he has picked up power lifting.An even bigger and stronger Boggan is happy to be back for another run with Vallejo.“Obviously everyone wants to move up,” he explains, “but Vallejo has been a great place for me. In my first year I was a little unsure about it, but my manager Garry Templeton II has been great, I’ve loved my teammates, and the people who work for the team have been awesome. All of them are here to help players move up, so I feel pretty lucky to have landed here.”
The gritty Boggan may well not last a full second season, as his performance has certainly been good enough to warrant some attention from higher leagues. For now, however, the Admirals will be happy to have the big man penciled into the middle of their order once again.
For an opportunity to meet Nick in person, get your tickets to Monte Carlo night now! The fun gets underway on May 29, at the old Riverbank in downtown Vallejo, located on 332 Georgia St. Doors open at 7:00 PM. Follow this link to purchase tickets: https://squareup.com/market/vallejo-admirals/monte-carlo-night