EDINBURG — UTRGV senior Brandon Pimentel hit his first home run as a sophomore in high school at El Paso Socorro.
“Trotting around the bases was something special,” he said.
The home trot is a fond memory in his mind and something he’d do quite often through the remainder of his high school years and stops at Howard and Mississippi State.
Now, after two seasons as a first baseman and left fielder for UTRGV, Pimentel has made program history and is looking to make more with seven games left in the regular season.
Pimentel is in a league of his own as the only UTRGV player in program history to hit 10 or more home runs in multiple seasons with 12 in 2022 and 13 this season. His 25 career home runs in his two years suiting up for the Vaqueros puts him second on the school’s all-time list and only two behind all-time leader Mitchell Moran, who hit 27 from 1981-83.
With seven regular-season games remaining, including the three this weekend at home, the Brandon Pimentel home run watch is heating up.
Pimentel leads UTRGV with a .370 batting average, 67 hits, 52 RBIs, a .624 slugging percentage and .458 on-base percentage, all team-highs.
“I’ve always known I can do it, it’s just about putting in that work and eventually that work will pay off. I’ve just stuck to that, believing in myself and I’m grateful for all the opportunities I’ve been given in my career,” he said.
Pimentel hit 14 home runs as a freshman at Howard College, a junior college in Big Spring, before transferring to Mississippi State. He played in 24 games over two years — hitting two home runs during that time — and was part of the 2021 national championship team.
Then he arrived at UTRGV and continued his dominance at the plate. Head coach Derek Matlock immediately knew the Vaqueros had a dude.
“First day watching batting practice, hitting balls all over the place, skilled hitting the ball to both fields, great power, good hand-eye coordination, great makeup and great worth ethic,” Matlock said. “He’s that kind of player, and it’s hard to break records, period. When you get good players, they can do it. It’s not going to be easy for him to do it, but he’s got an opportunity to do it. I wouldn’t ever say to Brandon Pimentel, ‘You can’t do it.’ I think that’s what Mississippi State did and that’s why he’s had two blowout seasons for us, and he needs to finish strong. He’s one of the better players to ever come through this program.”
Pimentel and the Vaqueros (26-21, 12-12) are set to make their last homestand of the regular season as Western Athletic Conference power Grand Canyon comes into town for a three-game series beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Game 2 is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, with Game 3 set for noon Sunday, all at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg.
Grand Canyon (31-19, 17-7 WAC) is an opponent with which UTRGV is plenty familiar, having met the ‘Lopes in the 2021 WAC Baseball Tournament championship game.
Grand Canyon shortstop Jacob Wilson is the No. 7 prospect in July’s MLB draft, according to the MLB 2023 Prospect Rankings.
After this weekend’s series against Grand Canyon, UTRGV closes WAC play with a three-game road series against Stephen F. Austin.
“We’re excited for the challenge. That’s what you coach for, to be in the moment. At the moment we’re in the playoffs right now, so we got to do a good job winning the series,” Matlock said.
LOS VAQUEROS BEER
Prior to the first pitch against Grand Canyon at 6:30 p.m. tonight, UTRGV athletics is hosting a tailgate beginning at 4 p.m. in the parking lot behind right field of UTRGV Baseball Stadium.
The tailgate will mark the official launch of Los Vaqueros, a blood orange kölsch style ale created by 5×5 Brewing Co. There will be live music, food and drinks before the game and fireworks after the game.
Tailgating policies can be found at GoUTRGV.com.
Saturday’s game is superhero night. Fans dressed as their favorite superheroes or in their best comic book character attire will receive free general admission.
Sunday’s game is the home finale. The graduating senior class will be honored in a special pregame ceremony.
Tickets for all three games can be purchased at UTRGVTickets.com.