Senior catcher Chad Durakis will be remembered for his durability and consistency when he leaves the Terrapin baseball program after this season.

But Durakis’ name will be in the records book for something else not quite as glamorous.

The Cockeysville native has been hit by a pitch more than any player in program history, an honor he earned by getting plunked 44 times up to this point in his career.

“The hit by pitch is one of the most sought after records in college baseball,” Durakis said. “So naturally I’d go for that one.”

While Durakis won’t reach the Division I record for getting hit by a pitch – Notre Dame’s Brett Lilley set the record when he was hit by a pitch for the 93rd time in his career earlier this month – the consistency with which Durakis gets hit is unmatched by his teammates.

Durakis has been hit by a pitch at least 10 times in each of his four seasons as a Terp, and the other players have taken notice.

Durakis said his record is somewhat of a running joke within the team. That doesn’t bother him, though. The catcher actually gets motivated by hit by pitches.

“Anytime anyone else gets hit, I get real pumped up,” Durakis said.

But what about Durakis makes him so susceptible to getting beaned? Coach Terry Rupp said it’s not that pitchers like pitching him inside or even that Durakis looks to get hit.

“Some players have the innate ability to get hit by pitches,” Rupp said. “Chad is one of those guys. He stands in there and doesn’t give up any ground to a pitcher.”

With the number of times Durakis has been smacked by a baseball, along with the rigors of catching, Rupp says it’s amazing he hasn’t been injured more often throughout his career.

“Chad’s biggest asset, ever since he got here as a freshman, is that he’s been very durable,” Rupp said. “We could count on him being there every day and offensively, he’s been a consistent hitter throughout.”

Durakis has enjoyed a solid senior campaign, hitting .310 with four home runs and 33 runs batted in, good for fourth and third on the team, respectively. But when it comes to getting hit by a pitch, not many can match him.

As for how he fends off the natural human reaction to flinch with an 80-mph pitch coming right at him, Durakis said it was simple.

“After the first one happens you get over it,” Durakis said. “Then, you just get used to it.”

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