BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo infielder Brad Agustin has proven to be nothing short of first class in his five-year career. With the 2010 season underway, the Bulls' baseball team is off to a considerably productive start with a 13-11 overall record and a 3-3 mark in Mid-American Conference play. Brad is definitely part of the reason the Bulls have been doing so well as of late.
Growing up locally in Williamsville, NY it was an easy decision for Brad to come to Buffalo. When asked the reasoning, Brad admitted that staying close to home was something that was valuable to him. Additionally, some of his friends were being recruited by UB as well. Brad's good friend Zach Anderson, who was recently drafted in the 29th round of the 2009 MLB draft, was being heavily recruited by UB which helped put any doubts Brad had about the school to rest. The University at Buffalo, Elon and Niagara were a few schools among many recruiting Agustin.
As most already know, Buffalo isn't exactly the most weather-friendly place to play baseball in New York. Once Agustin began thinking about a future in the sport, he realized he couldn't let his geographical positioning curb his development as a player. In high school, Brad began seeking indoor facilities to train in during the cold winter months. Furthermore, Brad's talents got him invited to sponsored showcases in southern states to show scouts what he was made of.
All Brad's hard work paid off for him when he debuted at UB. Over his five years, he has compiled statistics that rank among the university's all-time career record holders. Brad is tied for first with career runs (136), third in career at bats (684), third in career hits (203), third in career doubles (37), tied for third in career home runs (17), tied for fourth in career RBIs (111), fourth in career total bases (295), fourth in career walks (92), fourth in most games played in a career (177). Also, Brad holds the career record for most career assists (496) since the program's reinstatement in 2000. Most recently, Brad was ranked among the top 30 hitters in the country among all Division I baseball programs with a 17-game hitting streak from February 27th through March 28th.
Playing any sport for five years in a Division I program is exceptional. When asked how he has grown as a player over the years, Brad replied, "Physically I don't think I've grown tremendously, but I have grown a considerable amount mentally." Brad said in his early years at UB he would describe himself as "wild", getting upset with himself when he didn't perform to the standard he had set. However, over the years, his mental edge has kept him focused and on top of his game.
This weekend, April 10th and 11th, the Bulls will face conference opponent Toledo at Amherst Audubon Field. It is on that playing field that Brad's family and the rest of the University at Buffalo Division of Athletics hopes to see him score his 137th career run, making him the all-time leading scorer. It may seem obvious that Brad would also like to score his 137th run but when asked about how he views his stats and records he said he'd rather not think about them.
Brad is a remarkable player that has shown time and time again that he puts his team before himself. Brad ultimately wants to enter the MLB draft in the near future. However, when asked about the future for the Bulls this season, Brad didn't concern himself with his accomplishments. He simply stated that everyone's focus and his own, is on making the conference tournament for the first time in school history and putting together a strong performance.
Written by Tom Graff