Athlete Of The Week: Colin Larson

CHATHAM – Colin Larson (Boston College) spent the first game of his summer on the Cape hitting out of the Harwich Mariners’ nine-hole.

He hit a single, stole a couple bags, scored a run. The next day, he added a couple more hits, again from the last spot in the lineup. 

Larson moved up the order some — and kept hitting. On June 21, he slotted in as Harwich’s leadoff hitter. He’s stayed there ever since.

 Primarily appearing in right field for the Mariners, Larson is third among Cape players in on-base plus slugging (1.020) and tied for first — with teammate Ty Smolinski (Kansas State) — in runs (11). He’s also top five in hits (15), steals (8), average (.357), on-base percentage (.449) and slugging (.571). Larson is the opening punch of the league’s best offense.

“I feel really good at the plate right now,” Larson said after reaching base three times against Chatham last Friday. “Just trying to keep it simple and get my barrel on the ball as much as possible, get it in play, and the results will solve itself.”

It’s safe to say Larson feels comfortable swinging a wood stick. Last year playing for the Kingsport Axmen of the Appalachian League (another summer collegiate wooden bat league), he ran a .500 on-base percentage with four home runs in 36 games. He’s already hit two homers in 11 games this season. He’s hit five total across two years at Boston College.

“Takes a couple days to adjust after swinging metal, but then once I get there, [it] feels pretty natural to swing wood,” Larson said.

A pair of at-bats during a 6-3 win against the Wareham Gatemen on June 24 portrayed the depth of Larson’s contributions. In the seventh that night, Larson swatted a game-tying solo homer. An inning later, he finished a seven-pitch battle by driving in another run on an infield chopper. He’s got a swing reminiscent of Johnny Damon. Also, he went 4 for 4 with another home run and a walk the following game. 

Larson has reached base in every single game he’s appeared in so far (as of The Chronicle’s Tuesday deadline). He’s also made at least one full-extension diving play in the outfield.

An Easthampton native, Larson went to Cape League games in his youth, when his family would come out for vacations.

“It's something I dreamt of as a kid, and it's been really cool being here,” he said.