COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech junior A.J. Kirby-Jones
has been named a preseason All-American by Ping!Baseball for the
upcoming 2010 baseball season. In two years as a Golden Eagle,
Kirby-Jones has had a standout career at first base and on the
mound for Tech, including a record-setting season in 2009.
Kirby-Jones was a second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference pick last
season and MVP of the 2009 OVC Tournament. He started all 56 games
in 2009, filling roles at first base, designated hitter, starter
and reliever. At the plate, Kirby-Jones tied the Tech record for
most home runs in a season, leading the OVC with 20. He batted .325
with 15 doubles and posted a .706 slugging percentage with 68 RBIs.
He walked 42 times, including eight intentional walks and was third
in the OVC in both RBIs and total bases.
On the mound, he appeared in 18 games including four as a starter
and 14 in relief spots. He posted a 3-3 record with a 5.51 earned
run average, with 52 strikeouts in 49 innings.
“AJ is just a special young man first and foremost and a
special baseball player as well,” Tennessee Tech head coach
Matt Bragga said. “He is just a joy to coach. I know
he’s really looking forward to going out with his teammates
and having a great season.”
Kirby-Jones earned the third-team spot as a utility player along
with fellow OVC mate Richie Derbak from Eastern Illinois. A total
of six OVC players earned All-American recognition from
Ping!Baseball.
The Golden Eagles finished 31-24-1 in 2009 and captured the OVC
tournament championship. Tech went on to eliminate No. 14 Alabama
from the Clemson Regional in the NCAA tournament for the
school’s first NCAA tournament win since 2001.
Tech is set to begin practice this month and will begin its 2010
schedule in the third week in February.