The Virginia Tech Hokies are off to a strong start this season, boasting a 20-9 (7-5) record and fresh off back-to-back series victories over ranked opponents in Louisville and Wake Forest, including a sweep of the Demon Deacons. But amid the team’s success, one story stands above the rest: the rise of Sam Tackett.
In his first four seasons with the Hokies, Tackett was an unspectacular hitter, slashing .227/.387/.347. But in his fifth year, he has erupted into one of the most dangerous hitters in college baseball, boasting an eye-popping .410/.492/.770 slash line with 10 home runs and 32 RBIs,
His dominance has forced opposing teams to take extreme measures. In the series finale against Louisville, he was intentionally walked three times, a feat that occurred only nine times in all of Division I baseball last season.
Teammates and opponents alike have taken notice of not only Tackett's breakout but the immense respect opponents are showing him.
Hokies slugger Jared Davis was in awe after watching Louisville pitch around Tackett on Sunday. “That was very cool,” Davis said. “Only thing I thought about that was, that’s like Barry Bonds. He had to feel like Barry Bonds by the end.”
It’s a comparison that few hitters ever earn, but Tackett’s numbers—and the way teams are avoiding him—make it hard to deny.
The respect for Tackett extends throughout the clubhouse. Fellow outfielder Cam Pittman, who transferred into the program this season, has built a close relationship with Tackett.
“Yeah, Tack’s my guy,” Pittman said. “We got our own handshake, and we say ‘playmakers’ every time we see each other. That’s my dog. After playing against him for three years, it’s good to be on his side. He’s having a great year, and I take a lot of things from him. We bounce a lot of ideas off each other. He’s a great dude, great human.”
Tackett’s impact isn’t limited to the batter’s box. His presence in the field has been just as crucial for the Hokies, as pitcher Grant Manning can attest. Reflecting on a game-changing defensive play where Tackett robbed a home run against Wake Forest, Manning couldn’t help but praise his teammate.
“That was unbelievable. It gives you confidence. That was one of the most incredible plays I’ve ever seen live, and I’ll be sure to buy him a good meal afterwards, because that changes the ball game right there,” Manning said. “Even though I gave up a homer later on, [that] helped minimize the damage. Sam has developed into a hell of a player. I always knew that he was a hell of a player, but I’m glad that people are finally being able to take notice of that.”
Tackett’s ability to change the game on both sides of the ball has made him indispensable to Virginia Tech’s success this season.
For Tackett, the moment of being intentionally walked three times by a high-level ACC opponent didn’t fully sink in right away until he had the chance to reflect on that moment.
“In the moment, I didn’t realize how significant some people might say it is,” Tackett admitted. “It was definitely pretty cool to have that to cap off the weekend against a team from Kentucky, where I grew up. That was definitely a highlight of the weekend for me, but I don’t think I really understood it until the day after. I was sitting and thinking like, ‘Man, they intentionally walked me three times.’”
While there’s no single turning point in his breakout season, Tackett credits a strong start as a confidence booster to launch him on this past to being a Midseason All-American per D1 Baseball.
“The first Bucknell series, I didn’t start that first game, but I came in off the bench, got two hits, and started off that second game of the doubleheader with a home run,” he said. “I think I kind of just took the momentum and ran.”
His transformation hasn’t come by accident. Tackett pointed to Virginia Tech assistant coach Kurt Elbin as a key influence in his development this season.
“Really, Coach Elbin, I think, has done the most for me. Talking about trusting my preparation and the work that I put in. I’ve done plenty of stuff over my five years here to put me in positions to go out there and succeed. Going out there and doing it has been the hard part for me,” Tackett said. “Coach Elbin made a comparison at the beginning of this year when we came back, he was talking to me and saying, ‘Go out there and play like you do in the fall and early spring.’ Typically, it’s a little more laid back at that point in the season. So being able to just take that pressure off in-game when it is technically on and being able to play like nothing matters, I think that’s helping me the most.”
Plate discipline has also played a major role in his breakout. Tackett walked a career-high 16 times last season. This year, through just 29 games, he’s already matched last year's total of 16 walks.
“I think getting consistent at-bats and being able to know what the strike zone is,” he explained. “I’m not coming off the bench—it’s pretty hard getting that kind of sporadic playing time. You don’t see the ball out of the hand as much, so being able to see that four times a week has definitely helped with my plate discipline. That’s something that I strived to work on throughout this offseason—swinging at the right pitches.”
Beyond the numbers, Tackett’s success carries a deeper meaning for him., with his faith playing a big role in why he's been able to have this success through a shift in his mentality.
“It’s just been pretty cool to see all the work that I’ve put in, even before I got here, finally come to fruition,” he said. “I would say a lot of it has been leaning on our team chaplain, he’s been really big. I would say, for me, like on the mental side of things, just really understanding, ‘This time on Earth is fleeting,’ and understanding that I’m just going out there and playing a game that God has given me the ability to do. Being able to glorify Him through the things that I’m doing on the field, that’s been pretty cool. I feel like this is one of the stronger teams we’ve had faith-wise, and it’s just cool to see everybody kind of come together in that regard a couple times a week. And when we go out and take the field knowing that the battle has already been won.”
For Virginia Tech, Tackett’s emergence has been a revelation. Once a role player, he’s now the most feared bat in the lineup—one that pitchers would rather avoid than challenge. His teammates feed off his energy, and his presence in the lineup changes the way opponents approach the Hokies. The numbers speak for themselves, but more than that, Tackett has become the heart of a team with big aspirations this season.
