By Steve Krah
PBR Indiana Correspondent

Follow @PBRIndiana

MUNCIE — The young man wearing the red cap and sporting red hair is red-hot. 

Caleb Stayton is on fire for the hottest offense in the Mid-American Conference. 

The Elkhart Christian Academy graduate and Ball State University junior first baseman went 2-for-3 with a grand slam Tuesday, May 17 in a 7-4 at Butler University. 

The Cardinals (31-22, 15-9) are second in the MAC with a .293 batting average and the lefty-swinging Stayton is No. 1 in hitting among BSU regulars at .387 (79-of-204) to go with 10 home runs (second), 70 runs batted in (first), 17 doubles (first), 45 runs (third), .627 slugging percentage (second), .484 on-base average (first), 27 multi-hit games (first) and 18 multi-RBI games (first). 

Stayton is currently on a 13-game hit streak and has reached base in the last 15. 

“He’s had a special year,” Ball State head coach Rich Maloney said. “He plays on a team with good hitters and gets a lot of opportunities to drive in runs and he’s made the most of it. 

“Caleb has one special tool and it’s the right one to have — it’s hitting and he has power.” 

After injuries limited Stayton to 26 games in 2015, he has started all 53 games this spring for a team that closes the regular seasonThursday and Friday, May 19-20 with three games at Northern Illinois before heading in the MAC tournament Wednesday throughSunday, May 25-29 in Avon, Ohio. The Cardinals were the MAC West winners are the No. 2 seed behind No. 1 Kent. The conference tournament winner gets an NCAA tournament berth. 

While Stayton would not have chosen to break his thumb early in the season or suffer a concussion and broken nose late — the latter causing him to sit out for the summer. 

But he credits the time away from the field for getting him re-focused and it re-fueled his fire for the game. 

“I had to take it easy and I watched a lot of baseball,” Stayton said. “By watching a lot of baseball, the game slowed down.” 

Stayton went to Muncie and had an impressive fall and it carried over into this spring. 

“I got my priorities straight again,” Stayton said. “I remembered why I love the game. I do it for fun and in turn I’m playing as good as I hoped. I knew i had more in me. I’m living up to the talent I have. I thank the Lord for that.” 

A big fan of Stayton the person as well as Stayton the player, Maloney noticed how the young man overcame the adversity. 

“He is one of the leaders on this team,” Maloney said. “He is a very grounded kid. He makes good decisions. He’s got a great faith. He’s a pleasure to coach. He ranks in the top few players I’ve coach in the quality of person he is. It brings great joy when you see how Caleb carries himself. 

“He worked so hard and it was taken away from him. When you’re sitting on the sideline and can’t help your brothers, that’s tough. But he stayed with it.” 

With the time missed, the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft-eligible Stayton has not gotten as many looks as some of his talented teammates, including right fielder Alex Call and catcher Jarett Rindfleisch, who went through pre-season interviews with MLB organizations. 

But he is turning the heads of a few scouts now. 

“Other guys have gotten more notoriety as prospects,” Maloney said. “He is a tremendous competitor and he’s a great hitter. His star has been shining. He’s put himself in the mix. 

Maloney said Stayton has had the chance been seen by every MLB organization. Cross-checkers and other player development people have been regulars at Ball State games.  

“Those people don’t tip their hand so it’s hard to say,” Maloney said. “At the very, very least he’s put himself in line to be a senior sign.” 

Stayton, 21, puts his draft status in perspective. 

“It’s not in my hands at this point,” Stayton said. “If one person believes in me it will get me to the next level. That’s how I got to Ball State — one person believed in me.” 

Maloney, who had 731 wins in his 21st season as a head coach (11th at Ball State), is the Cardinals’ hitting and infield instructor and Stayton credits him for helping him at the plate and at first base. 

“It’s nothing dramatic, but he’s helped me to compact the swing and be more consistent,” Stayton said. “I’m putting the ball in play consistently. I have not had a slump this season.” 

Ball State defines a Quality At-Bat (QAB) is a trip to the plate in which a batter sees six or more pitches or hits the ball hard. Scores are tabulated for mid-week games and weekend conference series and posted.  

“I’m pretty competitive I like to be at the top of that list every weekend,” Stayton said. “I look to hit the fastball, but I don’t get many fastballs anymore.” 

Mostly a catcher in high school and listed as a back-up backstop at BSU, Maloney said Stayton’s body type (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) makes him suitable to cover the first sack and he’s gotten better and better at it. 

As a student, Stayton carries a grade-point average north of 3.9 as a telecommunications major with an emphasis in digital sports production.  

He gets to use his skills and inside perspective as one of the producers for a monthly 30-minute program on the baseball team for Ball State Sports Link.