Junior catcher, pitcher and infielder Drey Franklin wants his impact on Wilburton baseball to start with how he leads, not just how he plays.
“My goals this season are to keep everyone locked in on practice and in games on and off the field and lead by example,” Franklin said.
He said the excitement around this year’s group has been easy to feel. “Everybody has been excited to get started,” he said.
That energy has turned into commitment as the season approaches. “I feel like everybody is bought in and ready to go to work,” Franklin said, describing the biggest improvement he has seen from the team so far.
On the field, the focus is clear on both sides of the ball. “Being competitive on the mound and at the plate,” he said of the team’s goals. “We achieve them by doing live at bats during the offseason.”
Franklin believes the Diggers’ mentality gives them a real edge. “Everybody is humbled and ready to go to work,” he said. “Along with a solid defense.”
At the plate, he studies how opponents’ line up. “How they are shifted in the field and what their weak spots are,” he said of what he looks for when reading a defense.
Physically, the work starts long before game day. “I prepare myself during the off season by doing high pressure drills,” Franklin said.
Mentally, his approach is as straightforward as it gets. “Dominate,” he said of his mindset when he steps on the field.
As he thinks about his future legacy at Wilburton, Franklin keeps it rooted in attitude and effort. “That I’m humbled and leave it all out on the field,” he said.
He added that few people see just how much goes into their success. “How much we actually prepare during the offseason,” Franklin said, when asked what fans or outsiders may not know about this team.
Music helps him flip the switch before first pitch. “One Step Closer, Linkin Park,” he said of his go-to hype song.
One moment already stands out in his Wilburton career. “Winning districts,” Franklin said of his favorite memory in a Diggers uniform.
Junior athlete Drey Franklin stands 5-foot-9 and makes his presence felt in multiple sports at Wilburton. “Football: 90 tackles, 156 total receiving yards. Baseball as a freshman – .261 average, 14 RBI and .973 fielding percentage.”
