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 AJ KIRBY-JONES,
tennessee tech golden eagles
Few people are fortunately enough to be skilled at one thing in life, let alone having multiple talents. Ben Franklin was an accomplished inventor, statesman and well as a printer, Tyler Perry is currently breaking the bank as an actor, producer and screenwriter and back when I was a kid Young MC was a jack of all trades and a master of three, rockin the tables, rockin' the mic' and rockin' the young ladies.
Even fewer baseball players can impact a game the way A.J. Kirby-Jones can. Last season the up-and-coming utility star excelled both at the plate and on the mound as he led Tennessee Tech to the Ohio Valley Tournament championship and into the NCAAs.
At the dish, Kirby-Jones batted .325 with a team record 20 homeruns and 68 RBI. His dominance at the plate installed fear in opposing pitchers who issued 42 walks to the slugger, bloating his on base percentage to a hearty .445. On the mound the Knoxville native went 3-3 with 52 strikeouts in 49 innings and led the Golden Eagles in saves. Most importantly, he saved his best performances for when his team needed it the most. Despite finishing 10-11-1 in the OVC during the regular season, TTU went 4-0 in the conference tournament, fueled by Kirby-Jones' .500 batting average and three homeruns. In the conference tournament finale, the then sophomore looked like a season vet as he drove home the winning run in the ninth inning.
For his accomplishments on the field Ping!Baseball included Kirby-Jones on the 2009 postseason All American team as a utility player as well as included him on the 2010 preseason All American list. He was also named Tennessee Tech's 2009 Outstanding Male Athlete.
“A.J. is a special player,” TTU Head Coach Matt Bragga said of his emergent star, “As long as I've been coaching baseball, I'm not sure that I've ever coached anyone better. He keeps such a level head, his mentality is fantastic, and obviously he's got some tremendous power and he's able to help us on the bump as well.” A difference maker on the field and in the dugout, Ping !Baseball caught up with the pride of the purple for a little Q&A: Ping!Baseball: Despite a solid high school career and growing up in Knoxville, I understand that you weren't recruited heavily by your hometown school of Tennessee – has this been a blessing in disguise since you've done so well in Cookeville?
Kirby-Jones: Yeah, it has been a real big blessing because I came to Tech for the opportunity to play early, be surrounded by good coaches, and it was a good fit for me and has been working out well every since. Tennessee didn't recruit me at all and it has given me a little something extra to prove and show everybody back in Knoxville that I can play a little bit.
Ping!Baseball: You singled in the top of the 10th inning to plate the go-ahead run in a 4-3 victory which earned TTU the 2009 Ohio Valley Conference Baseball Championship. I'm assuming this has been your top baseball moment. What's your number second most memorable moment?
Kirby-Jones: There have been a lot of moments throughout my career that I could pick as being most memorable, but one that sticks out the most other than that was throwing a perfect game in high school while hitting two homeruns as well.
Ping!Baseball: How did you and the team celebrate after the game as you clinched a berth in the NCAA Regionals?
Kirby-Jones: We didn't go overboard; just went out to eat and came back home that night. Everyone got together and talked about the game and just started preparing for the regional.
Ping!Baseball: When the game is on the line like it was then, would you rather be stepping up to the plate on headed to the mound to put your team on top?
Kirby-Jones: I always want to be the guy at the plate with the game on the line because I prepare myself to go into battle and just wait on the pitcher to make a mistake.
Ping!Baseball: After two impressive seasons on the field, what have you been working on over the summer and during the off season to ensure that you perform even better in year number three?
Kirby-Jones: I have been working on being a more disciplined hitter and being more selective at the plate while trying to cut down on strikeouts. I believe you can improve that much more by doing that.
Ping!Baseball: What is your favorite non baseball related aspect of going to school at Tennessee Tech?
Kirby-Jones: The friendships that you gain around town and around campus because college much more than just baseball. I just try to be sociable and make as many friends as I can while I am here.
Ping!Baseball: Are there any series or games that you particularly look forward to playing this year?
Kirby-Jones: Memphis is a series that I'm looking forward to and just playing the big name schools and showing them what Tennessee Tech is really about.
Ping!Baseball: In “A League of Their Own”, Tom Hanks' character asserts, “There's no crying in baseball”. Do you agree?
Kirby-Jones: Yes. Baseball is a game of fun and who wants to cry when they are having fun?
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