Kirby-Jones sets school home run record, named OVC Player of the Week
After matching Tech’s single-season home run record in 2009, A.J. Kirby-Jones has began to etch his name at the top of Tech’s career record book.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – After matching Tech’s
single-season home run record in 2009, A.J. Kirby-Jones has begun
to etch his name at the top of Tech’s career record book.
Kirby-Jones, a junior from Knoxville, hit five homers on the week,
passing Mark Maberry, Bobby Morgan, Steve Hawkins, Matt Ballard and
Jeremy Bonczynski to become Tech’s all-time career home runs
leader with 33.
Kirby-Jones hit .526 (10-for-19) for the week, and in addition to
his five home runs he hit two doubles for a 1.421 slugging
percentage. He also drew seven walks over the course of the week as
the Golden Eagles went 4-2. Kirby-Jones was recognized by the Ohio
Valley Conference as the Player of the Week for his efforts. The
honor is A.J.’s first career OVC Player of the Week
award.
In addition to owning Tech’s home run record, Kirby-Jones is
on pace to set many other Tech career batting records. He currently
ranks fourth in school history in RBIs and slugging percentage. His
140 RBIs are only 13 shy of Mark Maberry’s all-time school
record of 153, and his .638 career slugging percentage is 48 points
below Bonczynski’s all-time mark of .686. Kirby-Jones ranks
sixth in school history with 92 career walks, 42 behind Donley
Canary’s record of 134. A.J.’s 210 career total bases
rank 10th all-time, and with three more doubles he will rank 10th
in school history.
So far this season Kirby-Jones has eight home runs, four doubles,
and 21 RBIs. He is slugging .980 and his .408 batting average is
third on the team. With 22 walks, his .585 on-base percentage is a
team best.
The Golden Eagles will be back in action Tuesday evening when East
Tennessee State visits Cookeville. Game time is set for 6 p.m. Tech
will then visit Memphis for a three-game series March 19-21.
Admission to all Tech home baseball games is free.
