By Craig Morgan, TheSunDevils.com Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Tracy Smith paid Gage Canning perhaps the highest compliment a coach can pay a player when he dubbed Canning a guy around whom he can build a program.
"When you're talking about building a program, to me, what pops in my head is you have veteran players in your program that are doing things right on the field, every day," the Sun Devils skipper said. "If you are going to be a leader, you have got to put yourself above reproach by giving consistent effort every day so when you say things to teammates they can't look back at you and think, 'you can't say this because you don't do this.'"
"I think Gage is one of the best I've ever had. He doesn't say a lot but he doesn't have to because what he does is supported through his actions. He practices and plays hard and smart. When he pops it up he doesn't jog it out, he runs hard every time. He's getting it done it in the classroom and he's getting it done socially. He just lives the right life."
At Smith's request, Canning set a simple goal this season of cutting down on the strikeouts that plagued his freshman season when he posted what was far and away a team-high of 66. He accomplished his goal, fanning just 41 times in a team-high 223 at-bats this season.
In adopting a more disciplined, more selective approach at the plate, however, Canning also crafted a monster season in multiple offensive categories. He led all regular lineup players in batting average (.332), runs (37), hits (74), doubles (tied with 12), triples (Pac-12-high 8), home runs (6), total bases (120) and slugging percentage (.538) and he finished second in RBI (29) despite batting largely out of the leadoff spot or lower in the order.
That approach has Smith envisioning Canning one day moving to the middle of the lineup as a run producer.
"One thing I tried to do was keep my head from moving so much so that I wouldn't have as much trouble seeing the ball," Canning said. "The other part of it was better plate discipline. I was better at not swinging at bad pitches. I just tried to make contact and move runners over or score runners."
Canning was named First Team, All-Pac-12, making him the 35th Sun Devil since 2010 to claim first team honors. He was the only player in the Pac-12 to finish with double-digit doubles while also posting at least six home runs and six triples.
Rounding out his performance was an almost perfect season in the field. Canning had 78 putouts, four assists, no errors and a perfect, 1.000 fielding percentage despite moving from his customary right field position to center and facing more chances than any other outfielder.
"He gets great reads on the ball so his jumps are really good and he can run so he has the ability to catch up to balls with his speed," Smith said. "He also has a tremendous and accurate throwing arm. He's our best outfielder but all of those things are created or enhanced by the way he practices. He works on his game all the time."
Canning will continue to hone his craft this summer in the Cape Cod League with the Chatham Anglers. The Cape Cod League has a storied history of tutoring eventual Major League Baseball players. MLB has provided financial support to the Cape League for more than 40 years.
"He's going to face very good pitching and that will be invaluable when he steps back on campus next fall," Smith said. "When we watch players, we try to determine what's the next logical step and try to match their abilities with a certain league. He's definitely ready for this step."
Baseball has been Canning's passion since he was 3½ years old and forced his parents to sign him up for Tee-ball. At every stop along the way, he has prided himself on remaining open to new coaching ideas, new approaches and new experiences. This summer, that will also include a new cultural experience.
"I've been to New York before but never to Massachusetts or the Cape," he said. "You hear a lot about it and my parents are going to come out and see me play. I'm really excited about this opportunity."
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TEMPE, Ariz. -- Tracy Smith paid Gage Canning perhaps the highest compliment a coach can pay a player when he dubbed Canning a guy around whom he can build a program.
"When you're talking about building a program, to me, what pops in my head is you have veteran players in your program that are doing things right on the field, every day," the Sun Devils skipper said. "If you are going to be a leader, you have got to put yourself above reproach by giving consistent effort every day so when you say things to teammates they can't look back at you and think, 'you can't say this because you don't do this.'"
"I think Gage is one of the best I've ever had. He doesn't say a lot but he doesn't have to because what he does is supported through his actions. He practices and plays hard and smart. When he pops it up he doesn't jog it out, he runs hard every time. He's getting it done it in the classroom and he's getting it done socially. He just lives the right life."
At Smith's request, Canning set a simple goal this season of cutting down on the strikeouts that plagued his freshman season when he posted what was far and away a team-high of 66. He accomplished his goal, fanning just 41 times in a team-high 223 at-bats this season.
In adopting a more disciplined, more selective approach at the plate, however, Canning also crafted a monster season in multiple offensive categories. He led all regular lineup players in batting average (.332), runs (37), hits (74), doubles (tied with 12), triples (Pac-12-high 8), home runs (6), total bases (120) and slugging percentage (.538) and he finished second in RBI (29) despite batting largely out of the leadoff spot or lower in the order.
That approach has Smith envisioning Canning one day moving to the middle of the lineup as a run producer.
"One thing I tried to do was keep my head from moving so much so that I wouldn't have as much trouble seeing the ball," Canning said. "The other part of it was better plate discipline. I was better at not swinging at bad pitches. I just tried to make contact and move runners over or score runners."
Canning was named First Team, All-Pac-12, making him the 35th Sun Devil since 2010 to claim first team honors. He was the only player in the Pac-12 to finish with double-digit doubles while also posting at least six home runs and six triples.
Rounding out his performance was an almost perfect season in the field. Canning had 78 putouts, four assists, no errors and a perfect, 1.000 fielding percentage despite moving from his customary right field position to center and facing more chances than any other outfielder.
"He gets great reads on the ball so his jumps are really good and he can run so he has the ability to catch up to balls with his speed," Smith said. "He also has a tremendous and accurate throwing arm. He's our best outfielder but all of those things are created or enhanced by the way he practices. He works on his game all the time."
Canning will continue to hone his craft this summer in the Cape Cod League with the Chatham Anglers. The Cape Cod League has a storied history of tutoring eventual Major League Baseball players. MLB has provided financial support to the Cape League for more than 40 years.
"He's going to face very good pitching and that will be invaluable when he steps back on campus next fall," Smith said. "When we watch players, we try to determine what's the next logical step and try to match their abilities with a certain league. He's definitely ready for this step."
Baseball has been Canning's passion since he was 3½ years old and forced his parents to sign him up for Tee-ball. At every stop along the way, he has prided himself on remaining open to new coaching ideas, new approaches and new experiences. This summer, that will also include a new cultural experience.
"I've been to New York before but never to Massachusetts or the Cape," he said. "You hear a lot about it and my parents are going to come out and see me play. I'm really excited about this opportunity."
Follow Craig Morgan on Twitter