Ex-Rebel Salem eager for Bama’s season at the Met

University of Alabama center fielder Georgie Salem didn’t make an error last season. It will be crucial that the fleet and sure-handed Salem performs to that level this season as the Crimson Tide plays its 2015 home season in the expansive spaces of the Hoover Met outfield.

Salem, a Vestavia Hills High graduate, is looking forward to playing in front of home folks as Alabama’s on-campus stadium, Sewell-Thomas Stadium, undergoes a $42.6 million renovation and expansion. Alabama will play 30 games at the Met, including all of its SEC home games.

“I think it’s going to be a pretty cool experience,” Salem said. “I grew up as a kid going to watch the Barons, and it always seemed like whoever played in that stadium was just a superstar. Kind of cool to have the opportunity to play there, in my hometown, and where I went as a kid to watch the pros play.”

Of course, it won’t quite be like playing on campus, and no doubt student attendance won’t be what it would be at “The Joe.”

“I hope a lot of Vestavia, as well as the rest of the metro Birmingham crowd, comes to support Alabama,” Salem said. “Even if they’re not Alabama fans, if they’re Auburn fans, just to come out and watch some good baseball. We’ve got some good SEC teams rolling in there so there are going to be some fun games to watch.”

As beneficial as it is to Birmingham-area Tide fans to not have to make the trip down the interstate to Tuscaloosa, it does create some logistical issues for the baseball team.

“Fifty-six road games,” Salem said wryly. “It’s definitely a challenge, but I think we’ve got a pretty good team that is groomed for success and can handle the situation.”

The Crimson Tide will bus up on Friday Firdmornings for the three-game sets it plays against Southeastern Conference teams. The team will stay in a hotel for the weekend before busing back down to Tuscaloosa after the Sunday afternoon game. For midweek games, the Tide will bus up and back the roughly 100-mile round trip. 

The junior, who started all 61 games last season and has in fact started every game in his college career, has been working on his hitting in the offseason. Not that he was a slouch at the plate last season — he tied for the team lead in hits with 73 and batted .282 with a pair of home runs and 22 RBIs.

“I hit well, but there’s a lot more in the tank,” Salem said. “I’ve been really trying to dial my swing in where it needs to be, and also working a lot on base running and stealing bases. That’s been my priority.”

As for the defensive aspect, playing outfield at the Met brings its challenges.  

“Taking bases away is a pretty big deal in the outfield,” Salem said. “If the ball gets by you it’s a triple for the most part and could turn into a home run, so taking proper angles to balls that are in the gaps and keeping the ball from getting to the fence is a pretty big deal. 

“But we’ve got a very fast outfield so I’m not too worried about it. I think we’ll be in good shape.”