By Andy Furman
NKyTribune saff writer
He holds franchise records in seven offensive categories. As for single-season records, he owns only five.
Yet, Hank Zeisler says he’d trade all of them for a shot at the bigs. Make that the big leagues. The Show.
Simply, he’d love to play Major League Baseball.
And, he probably should.
The Florence Y’all’s are in the playoffs – they clinched a Frontier League playoff berth last Sunday, following a dramatic regular-season finish against Windy City.
In fact, before 2026, the team’s last playoff appearance came in 2021 – their first season under the Y’all’s moniker after previously playing as the Florence Freedom.
They lost a best-of-five series in the first round.
This time they’ll try and change things – and Zeisler could help.
His single season records look like this:
• Hits 131
• Runs 94
• Doubles 29
• RBI 97
• HR 26
His season batting average was a blistering .345.
The California native had five collegiate seasons of baseball – thanks to COVID – and improved every year.
“I was a walk-on at Division 3 Chapman College,” he told the Northern Kentucky Tribune. “We were reduced to 15 games my junior year thanks to COVID and only a 20-game season when I was a senior.”
But he was awarded two additional years of eligibility thanks to the pandemic – and he made the most of them.
“I played one year at UNLV, and hit 15 homers,” he said, “and played in the Southeastern Conference at the University of Missouri, batted .300, and hit 15 homers.
“My goal,” the continued, “was to play in the SEC.”
But what he really asked for was a major league contract. He wasn’t even drafted.
Why?
“Florence recruited me after UNLV and Missouri, and I said, ‘Not Yet,’ with the hopes of a pro career.
“After I finished Missouri,” he said, “I was out of options.”
What he wasn’t out of was his love of the game.
“I’ve gotten better every year, on every level,” he said before the Y’all’s were getting ready for their first playoff game with the Washington (Pa.) Wild Things. “I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished; and if someone else doesn’t see that, well, too bad.”
At 27, the window may be starting to close. But, the next order of business — it’s Playoff Game 2 Friday night in Pennsylvania.
The Y’lls dropped Game 1 – 8-3 — Wednesday night at home.
But will he play? It’s Rosh Hashanah the Jewish New Year – and Zeisler is Jewish. Former major leaguers, Hank Greenberg with the Detroit Tigers and Dodger pitcher Sandy Koufax – both Hall of Famers and Jewish – chose to sit during the holiday.
“I’ll play,” he said, “I haven’t been that serious in my beliefs. Actually, I haven’t thought about not playing.”
Zeisler’s thoughts are what lies in store for next season – should he return to Florence it would be his fifth. “It’s hard,” he admits, “the travel is horrible but you get used to it.”
That’s 96 games – 48 on the road – bus trips to places like New Jersey, Massachusetts and even Canada.
“But I have a very supportive wife, and our dog,” he said, “they live through my schedule.”
He also holds the franchise record for games played – 318. After a possible championship run this season, he’d love to close the book on that mark and move on.
Rosh Hashanah — the Jewish New Year — marks a new beginning.
That’s exactly what Hank Zeisler would love.