Heisman winner Winston has efficient baseball week
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Florida State's Jameis Winston had a much more efficient weekend series against rival Miami than the Heisman Trophy winner did against the New York Yankees earlier in the week. He had quiet day in the much anticipated exhibition against the Yankees, outside of posing for pictures with Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada.
Coach Mike Martin says Winston's banged-up left hand is feeling much better and he expects to give Winston more at-bats in the near future. Winston injured ligaments in his hand against Duke in the ACC football championship game.
A look at how the 20-year-old sophomore fared last week:
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IN RELIEF: The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder took the mound just once. The appearance came Sunday in the ninth inning of a 13-6 win against Miami. He retired the three Hurricanes he faced - on three groundballs. Winston's pitching line for the week: 1 inning, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 K, 0 BB, 3 batters faced.
AT THE PLATE: Winston made a plate appearance in 2 of 4 games last week. He pinch-hit and went 0 for 2 against the Yankees - grounding out to second in the 6th inning and striking out in the 8th - including a broken-bat foul ball. Winston was 1 for 1 in the second game against Miami with a single to right field during a 5-run 7th inning. His official line this week: 1 appearance, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 R.
IN THE FIELD: Winston entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Yankees and played left field. He entered the game against Miami in the eighth inning and played right field. He did not record a putout or an assist in either game.
HIGHLIGHT: The broken-bat foul ball against the Yankees garnered loud cheers from a large crowd eager to see the Heisman winner face the storied franchise.
ON THE SEASON: He has two hits in three at-bats; on the mound, he has pitched five innings, struck out three of the 16 batters he's faced, has given up one hit, no walks and has three strikeouts.
ON DECK: Florida State plays a two-game midweek series at South Florida starting Tuesday.
QUOTABLE: ''It's surreal,'' Winston said after playing the Yankees. ''It's probably better than winning the national championship ... psych.''
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Associated Press Writer Kareem Copeland in Tallahassee, Fla., compiled this report.