COURTESY OF NSU ATHLETICS Justin Wachs, junior exercise and sports science major, prepares to swing.
Justin Wachs, a redshirt junior exercise and sports science major, is in the midst of a breakout season with the Nova Southeastern University baseball team.
Wachs came to NSU from West Broward High School in the fall of 2020. Since joining the Sharks under the previous coaching staff, he hoped to be an impact player, but now, under the guidance of new head coach Adrain Morales, Wachs has become a premiere player for the program.
Wachs redshirted in his first year with the program and rarely saw the field in the following two years of play, appearing in just 28 games with 41 at bats. With the new coaching staff, Wachs received a clean slate to prove himself in the fall.
“I was hired so late in the year that we tried to keep everyone we could; otherwise, we wouldn’t even have a team. That being said, nobody had a job, and everything would be determined by what they did in the fall,” Morales said. “Since the fall, he’s been hitting, and I think he has the confidence and trust from us to know that he has earned the job and it is on him to keep it.”
Wachs is proving himself to the new coaching staff and learning a new position. Wachs, a career catcher for the Sharks, made the transition to the outfield for the 2024 season.
“It’s definitely been an adjustment moving to the outfield, but working with our outfield coach and taking my reps in the outfield during batting practice seriously, I’m getting more comfortable out there,” Wachs said.
Morales highlights the effort that Wachs has taken to put the team first.
“In our fall exit meeting with Justin, I told him that if he wanted to get into the lineup, it was not going to be as a catcher, which he took very well and told us that he wanted to do whatever it took to get in the lineup. That’s when we looked at the outfield after he earned the opportunity offensively,” Morales said. “A big part of his success has been confidence. When you’re hitting, especially the way that Justin is, it is easy to go out there and play defense and stay engaged.”
The biggest challenge and adjustment for Wachs has been the mental side of baseball. Alongside Wachs, Morales learned how to boost his confidence and is proud of his growth.
“Mostly it’s just letting Justin know that he is a really good hitter and instilling that confidence in him, because he is one of our guys and we’ve really needed him,” Morales said. “He has been so receptive and open to our process, and has completely bought in. For us as coaches to earn his trust like that as fast as it’s been, which is not an easy thing to do, is a big credit to who he is.”
The 2024 season has been great for Wachs, as he is currently leading the team in on-base percentage (.515) and stolen bases (6) while being second for the Sharks in batting average (.379), hits (39) and home runs (5).
Wachs is currently leading both the team and the Sunshine State Conference in hit-by-pitch (17), which is the third most in NCAA D2 Baseball. Wachs is one of fifteen qualified players in the SSC with a perfect fielding percentage (1.000). Wachs’ great play has helped the Sharks to a 17-13 overall record in 2024. As the Sharks face a challenging back end of the season, the emphasis is on making winning plays.
“The biggest thing is knowing that if you do your job and find a way to help the team win, you’re going to be back in the lineup the next day,” Wachs said.
Be the first to comment on "Outfielder perseveres to make major impact for NSU baseball"