Former Virginia slugger Jake Gelof 'rooting' for Harrison Didawick to set new Hoos home-run record (2024)

Jake Gelof has one request for power-hitting pal Harrison Didawick.

With one more home run, Didawick, the Virginia sophom*ore left fielder, can set a new school single-season record for longballs.

“It’d be really cool for him to do it in the Supers or even in Omaha,” Gelof, the former Cavaliers third baseman whose 23 homers last year were the most for any player in any campaign in UVa history up until Didawick matched the mark with his two-run blast in the Hoos’ ACC tournament win over Georgia Tech on May 22.

He nearly broke the record during Saturday night’s Charlottesville Regional tilt against Mississippi State with a drive into the left-center gap, which took a hop on the warning track and bounced over the fence for a rally-igniting ground-rule double ahead of the Cavaliers’ walk-off win.

“I am rooting for him,” said Gelof, now playing in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ farm system with the High-A Great Lakes Loons.

“I had my time and I can turn the page to root for the next generation,” Gelof, also UVa’s career home run leader with 48, said. “Records are meant to be broken and I hope [Didawick] does it in a big spot. If he gets it in a big spot, that’d be really cool. Either way, I’m so excited for him. He’s such a great kid.”

Gelof was a seasoned leader in every sense for last year’s group that reached the College World Series and he clobbered his then record-setting 23rd homer with a shot that cleared the Disharoon Park left-field bleachers during the Charlottesville Super Regional against Duke.

“Being able to do it at home in the Supers with such a great crowd, that one was pretty cool,” he said.

Didawick was a freshman on that squad, and Gelof said from the instant that Didawick arrived at UVa, he fit with the Hoos.

“He came in, was a hard worker and he went about his business the right way,” Gelof recalled. “And he was really soaking up information from the veteran guys and he was leading the freshmen as well. He’s a hard worker, great kid and it’s been really fun to follow him along.”

Especially because Gelof can relate to the growth in strength from freshman year to sophom*ore year like Didawick, a Chesapeake native and Western Branch High School product, has experienced.

Gelof hit four homers his first spring with the Cavaliers in 2021 and then smacked 21 round-trippers in 2022. Didawick tallied only four home runs a season ago, but has 23 as UVa (44-15) gears up for this week’s Charlottesville Super Regional against Kansas State (35-24).

When Didawick tied Gelof’s school record with his 23rd homer, which was Didawick’s fifth in five games, he said his approach was to remain consistent at the plate and keep the confidence in himself. He said he was sure he’d hear, too, from Gelof, who said they’ve stayed in contact and text frequently.

“I realized kind of at the start of the season,” Didawick could hit for more power, Gelof said, “and really before it even started. He’s got a good frame. He swings it and hits the ball hard, and that’s the recipe for hitting home runs, and he’s finding the barrel consistently and he’s a good player, so I always knew he was capable of it.

“And watching throughout the season, he’s been putting in a lot of work and he’s been really good,” Gelof continued. “And this last stretch, he was kind of unconscious there and really throughout the season, it’s not one moment that hits you that he can do it. It’s him stringing along those good at bats.”

Gelof has been keeping up with the Cavaliers closely, too, especially down the stretch and into the postseason with former UVa teammates Chris Newell and Brandon Neeck who are teammates again with the Loons.

After their doubleheader at West Michigan on Sunday, Gelof said he, Newell and Neeck were gathered on the team bus and tuned into the Cavaliers’ Charlottesville Regional final against Mississippi State.

“Even following it along on TV, it’s been super cool to see the impact the crowd has,” Gelof said, “and it’s been great to see the UVa guys ball out.”

Particularly Didawick, though, for Gelof.

“Every season is unique with [Didawick] doing it or me doing it,” Gelof said, “so it’s just being able to enjoy whatever the differences are in the seasons and enjoy the moment right now. It’s been fun to watch.”