SEMO senior Ben Palmer powers his way toward elite company

One swing of the bat changed the game and turned the tides in the Redhawks' favor.

Ben Palmer hit his 16th home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 1-1 tie and give Southeast Missouri State a 3-2 win over UT Martin on Thursday, May 16, at Capaha Field.

"That was awesome," Palmer said. "I felt like I was on the starter. I just couldn't find myself getting on top of the ball, getting a good barrel. I think going into that last AB with two outs, I was looking for something on the plate that I can drive up to the middle."

Palmer's 16 home runs put him fourth among the top four in the Ohio Valley Conference. He provides the pop for a Redhawks offense that is second in the OVC in home runs (88), triples (14), RBI (381), batting average (.287), slugging (.495), and on-base percentage (.394).

"Ben's always had power," SEMO head coach Andy Sawyers said. "He's got really good bat speed and he's tall and lanky with great leverage."

Southeast Missouri State shortstop Ben Palmer celebrates hitting a home run against UT Martin on Thursday, May 16, at Capaha Field. Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

Before the start of this season, Palmer hit a total of six home runs over his previous two seasons at SEMO.

"For him, it was just a matter of making consistent quality contact and he's a guy that in his previous years, has probably struck out more than we would have liked and didn't make as much contact," Sawyers said. "I just think that the biggest difference in him this year is not his swing, we didn't coach him any differently, Ben Palmer is playing with confidence and belief in himself.

"And if I could take credit for that, I would be managing the Yankees," he added. "I wouldn't be at SEMO right now."

Palmer started the season with a four-game home run streak from February 18-24. Right when the stakes are higher and a regular season title is at stake, Palmer has hit three home runs in the last two games.

"When you start to string some hits together, as any ballplayer would say, I think you're probably a little more confident walking up to the plate," Palmer said. "Right now, I'm just having some fun trying to put some good swings on balls."

Palmer's home run numbers put him in elite company. Through Sawyers' tenure coaching the Redhawks, only five hitters have totaled at least 16 home runs in a single season. Joining Palmer are Justin Dirden (2018), Tyler Wilber and Andrew Keck (2022), and Josh Cameron (2023). Dirden and Keck were drafted and spent some time in the minor leagues. Dirden is currently in Double-A with the Biloxi Shuckers.

Would it be possible for Palmer to parlay his senior season into a future in the pros?

"I'd definitely be open to it," Palmer said. "I like playing baseball, I love it, so I really don't think I want to stop anytime soon."

If Palmer does land with an MLB organization, he would be the seventh during the Sawyers era at SEMO. Dylan Dodd made his MLB debut with the Atlanta Braves last year, making him the fifth Redhawk to play in the big leagues, dating back to Sawyers' predecessor, Steve Bieser.

"I hope so," Sawyers said. "I've talked to quite a few scouts through the last month or so as I just do my work and recruiting and talking to guys like, 'Who you've seen? You got anybody for me?' I've been throwing his name out and people are aware that he's having a great year. So certainly he's put himself on some scouts' radars."

The OVC Tournament begins on May 22, at Marion, Ill. As it stands, SEMO will likely enter as the No. 2 seed and will play on Thursday, May 23.