BOCA RATON – In need of a player to stabilize his outfield, FAU coach John McCormack made a call to the bullpen.
Redshirt freshman reliever Jordan Poore’s move from the mound to center fielder, and the corresponding move of Eric Rivera from center to left, did more than simply calm what had been shaky outfield play. It turned the Owls into one of the better defensive outfields in Conference USA.
“I think he makes the routine plays,” McCormack said of Poore. “His reads are good. It’s funny though – his defensive running ability is better than his running ability if you just ask him to run.
“He’s got game speed. His ability to track down fly balls is really good.”
Poore appeared in six games as a pitcher this season, surrendering five runs on seven hits in eight innings. He hasn’t taken the mound since the Owls’ March 24 6-2 loss in the nightcap of a doubleheader at UAB.
FAU began the season with Rivera, a freshman, in center and fellow freshman Gary Mattis in left. With Mattis, a natural middle infielder, learning to play left and Rivera still learning the college game, precious few fly balls could be classified as “routine plays” early in the season.
Rivera was charged with four errors in center in a little more than a month, and that doesn’t take into account balls that could have been caught had he taken better routes to the ball. Mattis committed three outfield errors in the far less strenuous left field spot and struggled judging fly ball, too.
Mattis’ indefinite suspension in late March – he is not expected to return this season – left McCormack in need of another outfielder.
Since Poore became a starter in the outfield on April 1, he and Rivera have combined to commit only two errors. More importantly, combined with right fielder David Miranda, they make routine plays look routine.
“I think the group we have out there is a very, very good group,” Poore said. “I think we’ve found the group that’s right out there.”
The move has benefited Rivera, too.
“Eric was struggling in center field,” McCormack said. “He’s played an unbelievable left field. He’s a better than average defensive left fielder.”
Poore came to FAU in 2015 as a potential pitcher/outfielder hybrid. He struggled doing either well in that fall and an injury the following spring prompted his redshirting for the 2016 season.
During the fall of 2016 Poore focused primarily on pitching, but the lefthander made a point of fielding balls in the outfield, too.
When McCormack called on Poore, he was ready with the glove. The bat has been a pleasant surprise. Hitting at the bottom of the lineup, Poore boasts a .295 average, scoring 13 runs and driving in 11.
Rivera’s bat has also come alive.
With Poore in the line-up Rivera’s moved from the bottom of the line-up to the two hole. The 38 runs Rivera’s scored are fourth most among the Owls. The six homers from the 6-foot, 175-pounder are significantly more than most expected.
“I just try to hit the ball in the gaps,” Rivera said. “I’m really a doubles guy. The home runs just come.”
Rivera, Poore and the rest of the Owls are in Western Kentucky for a three game weekend series that begins on Friday.
Coming off last weekend’s sweep at the hands of Southern Miss, the Owls are fighting to piece together a resume attractive to the NCAA tournament selection committee.
Wins over last-place Western Kentucky won’t help much, but losses could be devastating.
“As a team I think we need to come out and we need a sweep this weekend,” Poore said.
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