By Charles Prince

The North Jefferson News



HAYDEN — Most baseball coaches look at a players defensive skills when they look for the backstop of their ball club. If they find a catcher who can help the team with his bat as well, it’s just an extra added bonus.

On Tuesday, Wallace State-Hanceville head baseball coach Randy Putman landed an athlete who’ll bring that bonus to his Lion’s program beginning with the 2009 season—Hayden’s T.J. Rock.

“T.J. has the skills to be a quality defensive catcher in college,” Putman said. “He throws well, he receives the ball well and he knows how to block the plate. But, he’s got an offensive game that we haven’t always had at Wallace State. In the past, we’ve had some guys who were defensive catchers, but really weren’t threats at the plate. T.J. will be different. We expect him to put up some good numbers hitting for us.”

Rock emerged as a power-hitting catcher during the 2007 season, as the Wildcat junior belted 10 home runs and collected 14 doubles, while hitting .550.

Rock made the most of his chances at the plate when his teammates were aboard as he drove in 53 runs in 37 games played.

Rock’s big numbers in the batter’s box, earned him enough votes for the first team designated hitter’s position on the 2007 Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 5A All-State baseball team.

According to Putman, the Lion’s coaching staff is counting on Rock getting behind the plate as soon as he’s on campus.

“We’re excited to get T.J. for our program,” Putman said. “We’ve got two sophomore catchers this year and we’re hoping he’ll come in and be our starter as a freshman. I think he’s got the ability to do it. He came up and worked out with our team, and oftentimes when kids do that, they’re intimidated by playing against college players, but T.J. wasn’t and that’s one of the most impressive things about him.”

Rock said the Lion’s winning tradition, including reaching the National Junior College World Series on several occasions under Putman was a big factor in his decision to begin his college career at the Hanceville school.

“They’ve been very successful over the years and coach Putman has helped lots of players go onto four-year schools,” Rock said. “I’m hoping Wallace State is just the start of my college baseball career. I’d like to go on to a four-year school when I’m done there.”

Rock said he’ll work on improving his ability to hit the off-speed pitches, which he’s sure to see at the next level. Putman agreed there will be a period of adjustment for Rock at the plate, once he starts facing college pitchers.

“He can be a power hitter in college, but he’ll have to adjust to the game there,” Putman said. “The pitching he’ll see is so much better than high school, it’ll take time for him to get caught up to it. But once he does adjust to it, I’m expecting him to hit some home runs for us.”

Putman said Rock runs well for a catcher, although it may have not been noticed during the high school season due to the Wildcat’s catcher being lifted for courtesy runners much of the time.

Putman said he’s 95 percent sure Rock can play on past the community college level, but he said doesn’t have to end his career at a four-year school.

“He’s got great ability and he needs to work hard at the college level to develop it and become the best player possible,” Putman said. “He can do a lot in this and maybe even play pro ball some day.”