*This article was originally published on Saskatchewan Dugout Stories on April 4, 2024. You can read it here.

April 5, 2024

By Joe McFarland

Saskatchewan Dugout Stories

With a month left in his college baseball season, Payton McHarg’s name is already in the Washburn University record books for home runs in a season.

The question becomes: how many more can he hit?

Through 32 games, the Saskatoon product has clubbed 17 home runs, putting him in sole possession of fifth place in the school’s top single-season performances.

The record is held by J.P. Wright, who hit 26 dingers in 1987. Wright also sits second with 22 in 1988, followed by David Gauntt with 19 in 2016 and Parker Dunn with 18 in 2022.

With 16 games left in the season, McHarg isn’t worried about chasing history.

“Goals-wise, I’ve stopped setting numbers and started to focus on what I can control,” he told Saskatchewan Dugout Stories. “For example, instead of trying to chase a number, I’m focused on putting a good swing on the ball, regardless of how it plays out.”

That good swing has led to plenty of attention and accolades this spring, including being named the Canadian Baseball Network College Player of the Week on April 1.

GREEN TO BLUE

After a successful baseball career at home with the Saskatoon Cubs among other teams, McHarg began his collegiate career with Kansas City Kansas Community College in 2022.

He had a solid freshman season with the Blue Devils, hitting .293 with two homers and 26 RBIs in 41 games.

McHarg was limited to just 20 games in his sophomore season because of a wrist injury, but still managed to hit .297 with four dingers and 22 RBIs.

After the early end to his season, he says he felt like he had something to prove.

“Going into this season, I felt like I was well-prepared,” McHarg said. “Being around the coaches and players throughout the last couple of seasons has helped me develop who I am both on and off the field.”

He adds it’s hard to put into words how grateful he’s been for that help in getting him to the next level.

MAKING A SPLASH

If there is a learning curve with the transition to a higher level of baseball, McHarg didn’t get the memo.

He went 3-for-4 with a run scored in his Ichabod debut against Lynn University on Feb. 2, and just two games later, went 3-for-5 including his first home run while driving in five runs in a win over Barry University.

McHarg then entered the Washburn record books for the first time with a three-homer game against Union University on Feb. 8.

It’s a feat that has been accomplished only three times in the school’s history by Luke Manners (2006), Brett Ingram (2022) and Parker Dunn (2022).

The left-hitting slugger started the year on a six-game hitting streak and flirted with .400 for most of the opening couple of months, which shows it’s about more than just the long-ball.

With 12 doubles through the end of March, McHarg finds himself closing in on the 18 needed to crack Washburn’s top-10 seasons in that department.

And with 42 runs scored so far, he may very well get to the 61 to rewrite the books in that category as well.

“For myself, just staying relaxed and making an effort not to try to do too much has helped me stay loose and comfortable in the box,” he said of his early-season success.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound outfielder has also had two, two-homer days (March 15 vs. Central Missouri and March 28 vs. Rogers State) in what has already become a memorable junior season.

Although, he admits it’s not something he could have predicted.

“I haven’t really had a spark like this where I’m hitting a lot of home runs,” McHarg told TopSports.News in a recent interview.

“All my life, I’ve been little – a small guy with speed – and then the past two years, I’ve started getting more muscle and started to hit them out more. They just come.”

COMIN’ HOME

Not only is McHarg putting the entire US collegiate baseball scene on notice, but his prowess is also capturing the imagination of teams and fans in his home country and province.

The expansion Saskatoon Berries of the Western Canadian Baseball League are champing at the bit to see the hometown product put on a show in a stadium he’s very familiar with.

“I’m excited for what the summer holds and being able to play with guys from all over,” McHarg said.

“Being able to put on the jersey and play for your hometown team is something you wish for as a kid and I’m grateful for the opportunity to get a chance to do that.”

After leaving for school in 2021, the Going Yard Baseball grad adds he never expected to be able to come back home and play collegiate summer ball in front of friends and family.

He’s looking forward to giving back to the baseball community and helping build up the team’s presence, as he remembers how impactful it was to watch the Yellow Jackets as a kid.

It will give him the chance to sign a few autographs and chat with young athletes about his road to the record books.

“My advice is: talent only gets you so far,” McHarg concludes. “If you want it, then you’re going to have to work for it, regardless of your size.”

His hard work is paying off and he has the records to prove it.