Consistent approach carries Jake Gelof to UVA home run throne
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 SPORTS) -- Since 1889, Virginia has played baseball in Charlottesville and now no one has hit more home runs than Jake Gelof.
"I always stay kind of close to the bat rack," sophomore first baseman Ethan Anderson said, "At the time I didn't know, I mean he hits one every single game, it's just a reoccurring thing."
Gelof launched his 38th career home run in the fifth inning against Richmond to pass E.J. Anderson for the UVA career home run record set in 1998, Gelof's fourth homer in four games.
"To be here on a day that Virginia baseball has had baseball for over 120-some years and to witness a guy break the career home run record is a lot of fun," UVA baseball coach Brian O'Connor said, "I'm glad I was here."
A big part of the nearly 3,000 in attendance to witness history was Gelof's high school baseball team Cape Henlopen with assistant coach and former UVA closer Stephen Schoch.
"That was awesome, especially it's so funny seeing the dynamic with Schoch there now because he's helping out coach them," Gelof said, "They got a tour earlier and that really just opens up your eyes in high school to making this your dream school or making it a dream to play college baseball."
Schoch was keeping the rest of the Gelof family updated who watched from afar down 0-2 in the count, all Adam Gelof could think about was the process.
"I'm still in the dad kind of coach mode," Jake's dad Adam said, who's older son Zack also played at Virginia and currently in the minors, "I'm just looking for him to have a quality at bat. In our family we don't really result praise, we more approach, stay in the approach."
O'Connor marveled at the production Gelof has had in such little time with only four home runs as a freshman and 21 as a sophomore and currently 14 now as a junior, after hitting another on Wednesday against Mount St. Mary's. But the key for Gelof has always been a steady approach at the plate and everything he does in life.
"Being able to stay consistent," Gelof said, "It's tough coming off that last year, you have a lot of success early in the season, trying to prove stuff like that and just really being able to settle in, stay with that approach."
Gelof's approach is what teammates appreciate the most about the All-American and also what pitchers fear.
"He's not just a power hitter, he's got everything, he's got the tools," junior pitcher Connelly Early said, "When he has two strikes, he's one of the best hitters. In the fall and preseason, I remember facing him and those are not fun ABs."
In 20 years in the UVA dugout, O'Connor has seen few players like Gelof, who he believes will go down as one of the great players in the storied history of the program.
"We knew that it would happen at some point, not that he's up there trying to hit home runs," O'Connor said, "Now he's got a chance to give himself some distance for whoever's the next great for future home run hitter in this program."
More record-breaking moments could be in store as Gelof currently leads the country in RBI and with 152 career RBI, the junior is only 30 away from tying the all-time mark held by Steven Proscia at 182.
"They make you proud all the time with not just the results, but how they get there," Adam Gelof said, "This is a dream for Jake to be playing at UVA since he was little and just seeing him happy is the big thing."
But the item on the Gelof family bucket list is still to host a regional and Super Regional at The Dish and to book a return trip to Omaha.
"Our goal we break it down all the time, talk about it all the time is get to Omaha and win that national championship," Jake said, "That's what we have our minds on, what I have my mind on, so at the end of the day if that's helping us get to Omaha then that's what I'm trying to do."