By TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – For three seasons, A.J. Kirby-Jones terrorized opposing pitchers while establishing himself as one of the best power bats in the history of Tennessee Tech and Ohio Valley Conference history.
Starting 167 of the 169 games he played in from 2008-10, Kirby-Jones broke more than 15 program records and multiple league marks. By the end of the 2010 campaign, he owned Tech's career marks for home runs (51), RBI (190), slugging percentage (.686), total bases (409), intentional walks (18), multi-hit games (62), and multi-home run games (six).
He also finished in the top-five on the career charts with 128 walks (second), 49 doubles (second), 207 hits (fourth), a .470 on-base percentage (fourth), and 143 runs (fifth). Even with a cavalcade of impressive hitters making their way through the Golden Eagle dugout since his final season in the purple and gold, Kirby-Jones still owns the top mark for slugging for a career and can still be found in the top-10 in intentional walks (second), multi-home run games (second), home runs (third), walks (third), RBI (fourth), total bases (fifth), doubles (sixth) and multi-hit games (ninth).
He is one of four inductees into the 46th class of the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame. After forgoing last year's induction ceremony due to the ongoing factors surrounding COVID-19, the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame returns in 2021 and will hold its 46th and 47th inductions during Homecoming weekend, Nov. 12-13. In addition to the Class of 2021 being recognized, the Class of 2020 will also be honored and officially inducted, with Kirby-Jones, Stephanie Place Buchanan (women's cross country/track & field, 2005-10), Thomas Squires (football, 1985-87), and Borja Zarco (men's tennis, 2005-08) all set to join this year's class, consisting of Frank Harrell (men's basketball head coach/administration, 1980-present), Morris Irby (baseball, 1968-71), Leah Meffert Turner (volleyball, 2007-10), Chad Oberacker (baseball, 2008-11), and Ashley Potts Williams (softball, 2004-07), as the newest members of the TTU Sports Hall of Fame.
Twice during his career he set or tied the program's single-season home run record, smashing 20 as a sophomore and 26 more during his junior campaign. His 26 bombs also represented the OVC record until 2017. During that two-year stretch, Kirby-Jones also posted school records with 58 walks (still first), an .859 slugging percentage (still first), 177 total bases, three grand slams (still tied for first), and 10 intentional walks.
Kirby-Jones led the Golden Eagles in doubles once, home runs twice, RBI three times, walks twice, slugging percentage twice, and on-base percentage twice. He also set single-game records for home runs (three) and total bases (13).
Overall, the Knoxville native slashed .347/.470/.686 during his career. As a junior, he turned in one of the best single-seasons in program history with a .388 average, 80 hits, 64 runs, 26 long balls, 71 RBI and 58 walks with a .531 on-base percentage and .859 slugging percentage.
A utility man for head coach Matt Bragga, Kirby-Jones also made 46 appearances on the mound throughout his career, including four starts. He was spectacular as a rookie, posting a 4-1 record with a 2.92 ERA, two saves, and 34 strikeouts in 40 innings. He finished 7-6 overall on the hill in three years, producing five saves and 101 Ks over 100 and one-third innings.
After earning a spot on the OVC All-Freshman Team, he followed it up with an All-OVC Second Team appearance in 2009 and a First Team showing in 2010. He was twice named to the OVC All-Tournament Team, claiming MVP honors in 2009 after batting .500 with three home runs, a double, and seven runs scored to lead Tech to the NCAA regionals.
In three years, Kirby-Jones led Tech to a pair of OVC titles, including the 2009 tournament crown and the 2010 regular-season championship.
Kirby-Jones earned plenty of national recognition throughout his career as well, earning a place on the ABCA All-South Region team in both 2009 and 2010. He was honored as an All-American in 2009 and followed it up with five more All-American nods as a junior in 2010. The only player in program history to club 20+ home runs in two seasons, he was drafted in the ninth round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics.
The slugger spent more than four years in minor league baseball, playing for the Oakland A's organization for three seasons before being traded to the San Diego Padres organization. He finished his career with the Atlanta Braves organization. In 401 minor league games, he hit .246 with 333 hits, 66 doubles, 64 home runs, 191 runs scored, and 235 RBI.
Following his time in professional baseball, Kirby-Jones returned to Tennessee Tech to serve as a student assistant coach for Bragga during the 2016 season. During his one year on staff, he earned his bachelor's degree from Tech in marketing.
The Hall of Fame Dinner will be held on Friday, Nov. 12, at 6:30 p.m. CT in the Multipurpose Room of the University Center. Tickets are available through the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office by calling 931-372-3940 or by visiting TTUSports.com. Both groups will also be recognized at the Homecoming football game on Saturday afternoon against UT Martin, which features a 1:30 p.m. CT kickoff.
