Seymour Looks to Build on Historic Sophomore Season
2/17/2020 12:48:00 PM | Baseball, Les Johns
Wake Forest junior Bobby Seymour is coming off an ACC Player of the Year season in 2019.
It's not just that 2019 ACC Player of the Year Bobby Seymour knocked in a NCAA-leading 92 runs last season, it's that he consistently delivered when the Deacs needed him most.
With Wake Forest clinging to a fragile one-run lead in the top of the sixth of a must-win game in Tallahassee, Seymour pulled a 2-1 pitch into the right center gap to drive in three Deacs.
The Noles immediately answered, but Seymour delivered again in the next inning, this time driving one to the opposite field to bring in three more runners in a game Wake Forest eventually won 16-12.
"That was a classic Bobby Seymour moment where every time we needed him to come through down the stretch, he did," Wake Forest coach Tom Walter said.
Seymour became the seventh Wake Forest baseball player to earn ACC Player of the Year, joining Will Craig (2015), Jamie D'Antona (2003), Bill Merrifield (1982, 83), Brick Smith (1981) and Kenny Baker (1977). The award is voted on by the conference coaches.
"My dad was really proud," Seymour said about the award. "That was the biggest thing — he was excited for me. It was a great experience. He was speechless at first, and a little shocked."
His suitemate and fellow Deac Chris Lanzilli was there when Walter called Seymour with the news.
"I'm super proud of him," Lanzilli said. "I think a lot of us were expecting it. It's hard to beat 92 RBIs. It was an awesome day."
Lanzilli got his own call from Walter just a few minutes later, as he was named to the All-ACC first team as an outfielder, after batting .347 last season with 19 doubles, 16 home runs and 67 RBIs.
"It's a 'we' thing. It's always team first," Seymour said about the awards. "It's great to get the individual award, but making a regional and advancing is the goal. It's bittersweet, but that is what this year is for. We're taking some great steps."
Seymour finished his sophomore campaign batting .377 with 20 doubles and nine home runs to go along with his 92 RBIs. That's the second-most RBIs in a season in Wake Forest program history, trailing Jon Palmeiri's 94 in 1999.
"He's a competitor, and he's willing to fight during the games," Lanzilli said. "He brings that work ethic and adds the skill he's acquired to battle in the games. I've learned a lot from him and the way he works."
After collecting the ACC Player of the Year, and a host of honors from Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game and the American Baseball Coaches Association, Seymour was all set to participate in tryouts for USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team.
That experience was cut short by appendicitis.
"He handled it well. It was a ticking time bomb," Walter said. "We knew back against NC State that the antibiotics might be a short-term solution and it could come back. I don't think it was a surprise to anybody. Obviously the timing wasn't great, as we'd hoped he would be able to get through USA Baseball, then have it out and be back and ready for fall ball."
So the planned summer of USA Baseball and Cape Cod summer league was lost as Seymour recovered from the appendectomy.
"It was different, but I still got a lot of work in," Seymour said.
Seymour did get in about 10 games on the Cape and was fully cleared for fall baseball practice in Winston-Salem.
"The way he's swinging the bat so far here, it doesn't seem like he's missed a beat," Walter said.
For the Deacs to make a return to the NCAA Tournament, Seymour looks to improve on his historic sophomore campaign. He helped Wake to a 3-1 start to the season this weekend by picking up four hits, drawing five walks, and scoring three runs.
"I think he'll hit for more power this year," Walter said. "I think he'll hit the ball out of the ballpark a little more. You can see the lift in his swing is starting to come, and sometimes that comes later in his career.
"Defensively he needs to take the next step forward. You don't want that to be a reason that costs you money in the draft. You want to prove that you're an adequate major league first baseman, so your draft position is good."
Walter and Lanzilli both applauded Seymour's work ethic.
"We're here late at night a lot," Lanzilli said. "We both love the sport and want to go far. We're putting the time in and hope it pays off. We enjoy each other and being here putting in the work."
