AJ Baseball LNK.BIO

I am an accomplished switch hitting middle infielder with over 200 NCAA D1 games under my belt as well as over 150 games in a few of the top summer collegiate leagues in the USA.

The majority of my time at Grand Canyon University was spent playing 2B. In the summers I mostly played Shortstop. I have a good amount of experience playing 3B and OF as well. Defense is one of my strengths and passions. I am a reliable defender and a consistent starter, having started 193 of the 203 games I played in at GCU.

Historically, I have been a top-of-the line up guy either batting lead off or in the two-hole. I get a lot of hits, get on base a lot, steal bases, and score a lot of runs. My hand-eye is my strength. I can handle the bat in situational hitting scenarios and look to utilize my bunting abilities. Every now and then I’ll hit home runs but hitting for power on a day-to-day basis has never been my main focus or identity as a hitter. I am a gap-to-gap hitter, who uses the whole field depending on how I am being pitched.

I pride myself on smart, hard base running which includes stealing bases and taking extra bases.

My main secondary position is 3rd base. I actually first cracked the lineup at GCU at 3rd base as a freshman, but mainly played 2B and SS. I also had some time at 3B in summer ball in the Northwoods league. When I went to the Pioneer League Mid-Season Tryout in 2022 I played SS and 3B. And during spring Training for the Missoula Paddleheads this year I was specifically put at 3rd base.

Since college I played in some men’s leagues where I played 3rd base and outfield a lot. My least experienced position is in the outfield, but like I said I have been playing outfield in some men’s leagues and catching fly balls is one of my favorite things to do, so I could do it for sure.

I can play 1st base if I am asked to, but do not have many innings at the position.

Lastly, depending on the situation, I have pitched. I did a little in the men’s leagues. I haven’t had the opportunity to pitch a lot because I have been needed in the middle infield or somewhere else, but I enjoy pitching. I have never pitched at a high level, but in a pinch I could eat up some innings.

I’m a good teammate because I like to win. This means you have to have good positive energy, good attitudes, and good effort every day. And this is what I bring to the table. I love setting expectations for playing a high level of baseball. With this in mind I enjoy talking baseball, so I’m always talking with teammates on how to improve. If I have a coaching role of any kind overseas that would work out good because I like sharing my knowledge with those who want it, trading ideas, and learning from others.

My niche on a team is to be a grinder who can show up every day, and put my best out there which is what’s important over a season. I’m good with people so I can find commonalities with almost anyone. I’m vocal with the team when I have to be or when I see fit, but I tend to more lead by example.

Career highlights

Part of two Regular season conference championships at GCU, 2017 & 2018. My senior year 2019 we made it to the WAC conference championship where we lost one game short of going to the NCAA regionals.

GCU:
2016(Freshman): 2nd team All-WAC 2B
2019: WAC All-Tournament team
All WAC academic 2017-2019

Personal Records in GCU’s D1 era:

Offense Career:
-2nd in career hits(218)
-2nd in career runs scored (153)
-1st in career walks(110)

Defense Career:
-1st in double plays turned(115)
-1st in assists(499)

Summers:
2016: Cal. Collegiate Baseball League, SS, All-Star
2017: Alaska Baseball League, Won Championship, SS, All-Star
2019: Southern Cal Collegiate Baseball League, Won Championship, SS, All-Star

Indy Ball:
2022: 11th Pick out of Pioneer Baseball League Mid season Tryout, Missoula Paddleheads
Invited to 2023 Spring Training for the Paddleheads.

Coaching

As a coach, I bring experience from high school through the college level. My father had his own High School baseball program so I grew up around the game and coaching is in my blood. I have never been a head coach of a team, but rather have been an assistant or a volunteer. My main expertise is individual defensive skill work and team defense. I also can coach base running and hitting to the level of D-1 baseball.

My style of coaching is to demand that things are done the right way. I realize that there is more than one way to do certain things. One of my philosophies is not to fix something that does not need fixing. This can apply to defense and hitting. My goal is to see the kids succeed, get to the next level if they want, and be confident baseball players.

Overseas Goals

I don’t want to be done playing baseball yet. I still have more gas in the tank. I also have wanted to visit Europe and possibly some other places around the world for some time now. And baseball is my ticket to do this. I have been working as a plumber on and off for the past couple years, and I can always go back to that when I am done. I also want to perform really well and see if any other opportunities come of it perhaps in the States or somewhere over seas.

The last time I was in full game shape at a professional level was in May of 2023. I was invited to spring Training for the Missoula Paddleheads of the Pioneer Baseball League in the USA. Here I was released in Spring Training. At the time I went back home to Arizona and went back into plumbing, which I have been doing for the past few months. I played a little bit in a men’s leagues/tournaments since I came back as little as a month ago, but it would take me a few months to get back to peak running shape for a season. Skill wise, I could get in shape in a month.

In 2022 I was in shape because I prepared for that Pioneer League Tryout which was in Boise, Idaho in June 2022. I stayed in shape until the end of that season which ended in September because I was “on call” for them. I played in a men’s league and prepared myself in order to be ready for Spring Training in May 2023.

My last full season was in 2019. When Covid hit in 2020, I had just been to a Frontier League tryout and was invited back to a Dbacks/Frontier League tryout in Scottsdale, AZ. Covid hit right after that, and since I did not get vaccinated, I lost opportunities to play again.

I made a BBJO profile in 2021 and had some teams interested from Europe and even the Frontier League in the States, but I was not vaccinated for Covid so neither worked out.

Articles/Recognition

• Bull candidate for Senior CLASS
• GCU Record-Holder: most hits (217), walks (109), and 2nd for most runs scored (151)
• WAC All-Tournament Team 2019
  • “Lopes Sent to WAC Title Game”
  • “‘Dawg’ Fight Sets up WAC Title Shot”
• “Bull Does it all for Mankato MoonDogs”
• WAC Hitter of the Week 2017
• All-WAC 2nd Team 2016