Will Currier is used to expanding his comfort zone.
He’s been a starting pitcher on the weekends and during the week, thrown in long and short relief and served as a closer throughout his rollercoaster career. So when head coach Sean McNally asked him to take batting practice late last season after three years of pitching, Currier took it in stride.
“It was bizarre,” Currier said. “Coach McNally just pulled me out of the outfield one day. He was frustrated with how our hitters were hitting, and I took a pretty good BP [batting practice]. I found myself in the lineup a week later against a midweek team.”
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound presence on the mound soon found himself terrorizing his former bullpen colleagues. But despite dominant batting practice performances, adjusting to live, in-game pitching proved to be a more daunting task. In 17 at-bats at the end of last season, Currier had just four hits with one home run.
However, the big righthander knew from experience that it would take time to adjust.
“I’ve done pretty much everything from a pitching aspect that you could do,” Currier said. “Now I’m starting to see the ball a lot better, having some at-bats under my belt.”
And adjust he has. After breaking into the everyday lineup a few weeks into the season, Currier has evolved from spot starter to slugger. With the second-most home runs on the team in only 22 games—some of his teammates have played in as many as 32—he has become the Blue Devils’ most dangerous power threat from his spot as the designated hitter.
Duke’s home at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park complements Currier’s game nicely. With the “Blue Monster” in right field less than 300 feet from the batter’s box, righthanded hitters are at a distinct advantage.
“Its unbelievable. There’s no better feeling than looking out there and seeing that big blue wall, like, 270 or 280 feet away,” Currier said. “My mom’s always talking about trying to get me to hit it off the bull. I still haven’t done it yet, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Currier has hit six home runs in the last nine games, and he slammed four in the past week alone to lead the Blue Devils to a series win over Clemson and a midweek victory over William and Mary.
“The adjustments he’s making at the plate are pretty special,” McNally said. “He’s been a key guy for us. It’s just exciting to see him swing it the way he has.”
And with Currier in the lineup, Davidson (13-19) could be in for a surprise Tuesday. The senior wasn’t even a starter March 23, the last time Duke met the Wildcats on the field. Then, the Blue Devils left Davidson’s home park with a 6-2 victory, sending the Wildcats into a tailspin they have not been able to shake. Davidson has lost its last 12 games, starting with that home loss to the Blue Devils (19-13), and sports a 3-9 road record.
With Currier’s hot bat now in the heart of the lineup, Davidson will have its work cut out for it.
“I’m seeing the ball really well. Coach [McNally] has got us spread out a little bit, which allows us to see the breaking balls a little better,” Currier said. “When you’re hot, you see the ball a lot better, I guess, than when you’re not.”
And if Currier can continue to improve on his recent performances, the final weeks of his Duke baseball career may simply mark a new beginning for the reinvented hitter.
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