Nebraska Baseball: Former outfielder Aaron Palensky signs with Yankees
A Nebraska baseball alum is going pro.
A former Nebraska baseball star is headed to the show. Thursday, former husker outfielder Aaron Palensky signed with the New York Yankees.
In two seasons with Nebraska baseball, Palensky put up impressive numbers. In 2019, he batted .320, with seven home runs, and 35 runs batted in. He was off to a good start this season as well before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Batting .302, he had four homers and 19 runs batted in at the time of the stoppage.
He was a spark for the Nebraska baseball offense, and he was a big reason why they advanced deep into the Big Ten tournament at the end of last season. Now, he will take his talents to the Big Apple, as Nebraska baseball looks to continue a new era under Will Bolt.
As a freshman, Palensky secured all-Big Ten honors. He was only one of two Nebraska baseball players to start all 56 games. He led the Nebraska baseball program in batting average, hits, runs scored, home runs, and total bases. He was able to continue his strong play into the postseason. With Nebraska baseball in the Oklahoma City regional in 2019, he continued to shine when the team needed him most.
He recorded a hit in all three games of the tournament. Perhaps his best game during that stretch was against Oklahoma State on June 1. In that contest, he smacked a home run and three runs batted in.
I’m extremely happy for him and am thrilled that he gets to continue his dream of playing professional baseball. Doing so with one of sports most decorated and recognizable franchises is just icing on the cake. I would have liked to have seen what he could’ve continued to do at Nebraska, and I am willing to bet that he would have had the same impact he did last year. He would have been a staple in the Nebraska lineup.
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In any event, I’m excited to see what he can do in the professional ranks. Going through the rungs of minor-league baseball can be very grueling. However, with the way the game is gravitating towards home runs and big hits, Polansky should be able to fit in just fine. He certainly provided enough big hits during his time in Lincoln, and with the short porch at Yankee Stadium, he should be able to get his fair share in the future.