The Hitting Vault: Member Spotlight
HUNTER BISHOP: DUAL SPORT SENSATION
In the fall of his senior year at San Mateo’s Serra High School, Hunter Bishop committed to play football at his brother’s alma mater, the University of Washington. Standing 6’5”, with quick feet and soft hands, Hunter had recently transitioned from quarterback to wide receiver, earned first-team all-conference honors, and was slated to make an impact on the gridiron for the thriving Huskies. But where other head baseball coaches backed off their recruiting efforts, Arizona State manager Tracy Smith kept knocking. He offered Hunter a slot on the team, and forwarded his game film to ASU’s offensive coordinator, who immediately showed interest. That fall, a trip to Tempe changed Hunter’s course. After the visit and consultation with his family, Hunter accepted a scholarship for baseball from Arizona State.
Improvement Through Hitting Drills
Hunter followed the commitment by tearing through his senior year at Serra, earning WCAL Baseball Player of the Year in 2016. With his copious physical tools and raw strength from the left side of the plate, Coach Smith believed Hunter had a bright future on the diamond, and Major League potential, particularly if he devoted time to develop his hitting.
In an effort to unlock his potential, Hunter worked hard over the summer, spending hours in the weight room and batting cages. He set goals: to drive the ball more consistently, improve launch angle, and get better at recognizing and jumping on pitcher mistakes. The offseason included work alongside fellow Bay Area native Coach Lisle, and Hunter’s older brother, Braden, a touted prospect for the Seattle Mariners.
“Hunter already has bat speed. Some of the quickest I’ve ever coached. So we focused on bat path drills to improve launch angle, and balance and footwork through the crossover drill,” said Coach Lisle.
As a result, Hunter quickly reported increased power numbers. Line drives have become home runs, and ground balls have evolved into line drives. By the time Hunter arrived in Arizona for the beginning of his freshman year, hopes were high for the towering lefty with rich potential. He reported moonshots during batting practice, crushing balls off the the top of the scoreboard in right, and 450 feet to dead center.
Fast Impact for a Freshman Slugger
Over his first season for the Sun Devils, Hunter’s power is clearly unlocking. The freshman has been raking at ASU over the first quarter of the season, earning a spot on base over half of his at-bats, and slugging at a .619 clip. While at-bats have been limited, the 18 year-old’s impact has been outsized. On March 10th, facing a 5-0 deficit in the bottom of the 5th against Long Beach State, Hunter hammered a first pitch slider deep over the right field wall for the first home run of his college career. The inaugural tater sparked a comeback for ASU, and Hunter might’ve had a chance to win the game in the 10th if he hadn’t been intentionally walked. Since his breakout game, Hunter earned a starting slot in the heart of the Sun Devils’ lineup. It seems safe to say his decision to focus on baseball is paying dividends already.
Coach Lisle: Founder of The Hitting Vault
Coach Matt Lisle is baseball’s most widely followed hitting coach. After stints coaching college ball, associate scouting for the Detroit Tigers he started The Hitting Vault in 2014. Coach Lisle has 17+ years of experience in hitting instruction, speaking at leading conventions around the country and providing private lessons to pros, collegiate athletes, and amateurs alike. Coach Lisle’s motivational approach to the game, combined with his passion and positive reinforcement, have made him one of the most sought-after hitting gurus in baseball. The Hitting Vault is the premier online hitting membership, with the largest collection of hitting drills online.
