Ask a baseball fan to describe a second baseman, and he'll probably present this profile (otherwise known as the 'Jerry Remy' archetype):

"Speedy guy--good glove, light hitter--will bunt his way on base if the opportunity presents itself."

Then introduce him to Harvard Co-Captain, Jim Mrowka, and watch his mouth drop open.

This Kirkland senior is not a typical second baseman.

Admittedly, he's fast and a fine fielder. (Mrowka stole eight bases and registered 89 put-outs last season.)

But a light hitter? Not a chance.

On a Crimson squad loaded with offensive firepower, Mrowka stands out as an unusually gifted batter.

Record Hitter

Last year Mrowka led the team with a phenomenal .423 batting average, and drilled more hits in a season (63) than any other player in Harvard baseball history.

He also set the single-season record for doubles with 19, and wielded an impressive .570 slugging percentage, while driving in 27 runs.

These numbers are the culmination of steady improvement over the years.

As a freshman, Mrowka hit a modest .202, but climbed to .305 the next year. Last season, he shined, and was named to First-Team All-EIBL for his performance.

Mrowka attributes his achievement to good coaching and hard work over the summer in the Cape Cod League--the same league in which a young Carl Yaztremski used to play to improve his game.

"I just tried to learn as much as I could about hitting from coaches and people I played with during the summer and my three older brothers who are pretty knowledgeable," Mrowka says. "Then I worked hard to improve my stroke."

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