Tyler Wincig ’20 is a patient guy.
His baseball stats tell the tale. During his junior campaign last season, the utility player got on base in an eye-popping half of all of his plate appearances. His .500 on-base percentage was second best in the Patriot League and the third-highest mark in team history — in addition to ranking 20th best in NCAA Division I play.
If a pitch isn’t to his liking, Wincig is happy to let it pass (he drew 29 walks last season, the 10th most in program history).
“You can’t score if you don’t get on base first,” says Wincig, who was named Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year in his sport in 2019. “I’m proudest of my on-base percentage, and I also think it benefits the team more than any other stat I have.”
And it did. He scored 32 runs in 2019, the most on his team. At a time when baseball headlines glorify home runs and extra-base hits, Wincig excelled in getting on base any way he could — by walk, getting hit by a pitch or via a base hit. Last year he batted .348, with eight home runs (tied for second in the Patriot League) and 28 runs batted in.
The accounting & financial management major from New York City entered the 2020 season as co-captain, a role in which he served last season. He was expected to be an essential cog on the Bison roster, playing positions as varied as first base, outfield, pitcher and designated hitter.
On a young team, he also planned to fulfill a critical leadership role.
His good intentions evaporated when the Patriot League announced cancellation of all play, effective March 16, due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“The season coming to an end this way is really such a shame,” says Wincig. “My teammates and I grew up always hearing coaches say, ’Don’t take this sport for granted. It’s gone before you know it.’ But hearing people say it is nothing compared to actually experiencing it. The team worked so hard, and the season ending in this way is a tragedy.
“Of course, my team and I stand by the decisions of the University, the Patriot League and the NCAA,” Wincig adds. “We trust that the decision to cancel the season was in the best interests of everyone involved, but nevertheless the decision has broken many hearts.”
While playing professional baseball had been a lifelong dream, Wincig has some consolation for the loss of his senior season: a job waiting for him at a Philadelphia private-equity firm.