By Jim Hague
Versatile.
According to Merriam-Webster, versatile means “having the ability to do many things…changing or fluctuating readily…embracing a variety of subjects, fields or skills.”
According to the Rutgers-Newark baseball dictionary, there’s only one definition: Ryan MacFarlane.
To simply call the senior MacFarlane a versatile baseball player would practically be an insult, because the young man can do everything on the baseball field _ and then some. During his four-year career with the Scarlet Raiders, MacFarlane has played all of the middle infield and outfield positions. He was also a dominating closer and now gets the ball as a starter for the Scarlet Raiders in the crucial weekend New Jersey Athletic Conference contests.
“He’s been a blessing for the program,” R-N head baseball coach Mark Rizzi said. “There’s no questioning his versatility. He’s been a gamer and does whatever we need to help us win.”
Last year, because of a season-ending injury to expected starting shortstop Kevin Olah, MacFarlane was moved from the outfield to shortstop, where he played most of the season.
This year, MacFarlane is back in centerfield.
“I think he’s happier as an outfielder,” Rizzi said. “He’s made some really good catches out there.”
“I started off as a centerfielder,” MacFarlane said. “I like it out there. It’s easier for me.”
When MacFarlane was a freshman, he was willing to do anything and everything, just to get on the field.
“Ever since Little League days, I played every position,” said MacFarlane, a standout performer at Freehold Township High School in New Jersey before he came to R-N. “I remember my freshman year, Coach Rizzi said that he recruited me as a pitcher, but he also knew that I wanted to get on the field, so I asked for a shot in the outfield. After a few games, I was in left field, then I got moved to center.”
MacFarlane was selected to the New Jersey College Baseball Association Division II-III All-Rookie Team, finishing second on the team with a .296 batting average with 45 hits, 14 RBI and 22 runs scored, seeing time both in the outfield and shortstop.
MacFarlane remembers a time in his baseball life when he didn’t want to pitch.
“I didn’t care for pitching too much my freshman year,” MacFarlane said. “I just didn’t think of it much.”
But when the Scarlet Raiders needed another arm to compliment the pitching staff during his sophomore year, MacFarlane was more than ready, posting a team-best 2.28 earned run average with two saves. MacFarlane made 14 pitching appearances and two starts. He also started 36 games at either shortstop, centerfield, second base or on the mound, batting .280 with 40 hits and 13 RBI.
“After my sophomore year, I wanted to be on the mound,” MacFarlane said. “I love competing. Pitching is pressure and I love being in the starting rotation. You have to be a competitor to be a pitcher.”
MacFarlane led the New Jersey Athletic Conference in stolen bases in 2014, swiping 23 bases in 24 tries, which also shows his incredible versatility. How many pitchers actually lead the league in stolen bases?
“He has a lot of tools,” Rizzi said. “What can I say? He’s just a good baseball player. He has a lot of tools with which he can help the team.”
In 2015, MacFarlane’s junior year, he batted .307 with 18 RBI, 39 hits and 20-of-21 in stolen bases. He also pitched 27 innings and earned two victories on the mound.
Now, in his final season, MacFarlane will get the ball in the key NJAC contests.
“I’m an NJAC pitcher now,” MacFarlane said. “I’ve been waiting years for this chance. I’m going to go out there and take it to them.”
MacFarlane currently leads the Scarlet Raiders in hitting with a .404 batting average, collecting 23 hits and 14 RBI. He’s 10-of-12 in stolen base attempts and scored 16 runs. He also owns a 2.61 earned run average with a 1-2 record, one complete game and two saves.
“I just do whatever Coach Rizzi tells me to do,” MacFarlane said. “I definitely want to go out with a bang. I want this to be my best season. I’ve been through some tough seasons and I want this one to be my best. I want to leave it all on the field. These last few weeks are going to fly by, so I want to enjoy them and give it everything I’ve got.”
MacFarlane is now batting in the third slot in the Scarlet Raiders’ lineup.
“I love it,” said MacFarlane. “I never had this opportunity before. It’s perfect for me. I never really felt comfortable leading off. I just want to get up there and hit the ball.”
“He led off freshman year, but that really wasn’t for him, because he doesn’t like to draw walks,” Rizzi said.
MacFarlane admits that.
“Me and walking never really got along,” he said.
“He’s more of a free swinger,” Rizzi said. “I first moved him to sixth or seventh, because I wanted him to be free at the plate. He was fine with it, but this year, he’s better off third. He’s arguably our best hitter and he runs well, so I need him to be up in that first inning.”
Rizzi said that MacFarlane struggled with the idea of being a leader.
“Before the season started, he came to me and said that he didn’t think he could be a leader on the team,” Rizzi said. “He said he wasn’t sure if he had leadership qualities. But Ryan leads by example. I know that sounds cliché, but he truly does. He’s not a big ‘rah-rah’ guy and he’s not going to get in your face. But he wants to win so badly and you see it. So those are his leadership qualities. He plays so hard and wants to leave his mark here.”
“In high school, I don’t think I was trying to be a leader,” MacFarlane said. “In college, I didn’t understand how to be a leader without proving it with hits. I am lucky to have teammates who care about things as much as I do. They know that I love them and would do anything for them. I have to admit, there was an adjustment with what I exactly had to do. I guess I’m handling it.”
MacFarlane is a criminal justice and psychology major and will graduate next year. He plans on perhaps joining the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“I don’t know yet, but I definitely want to get into some sort of agency,” MacFarlane said. “I’d like some excitement in my life. I might want to go in that direction.”
Maybe there’s a Federal Department of Versatility? If that’s the case, then Ryan MacFarlane has that one already down pat.
