With the college baseball calendar now turning over to the postseason, many schools see this time of year as one full of opportunity. Gavin Shaddix agrees, though the road looks different for him. Shaddix isn’t worried about regionals or a trip to Omaha, at least not yet. But this postseason is still one of excitement and hope for the rising star.
“I would describe my play style as more scrappy,” said Shaddix. “I have always been on the smaller side size wise, but what I lacked in size I made up for in speed.”
Shaddix is a talented 5-foot-9 third baseman/center fielder who was recently tearing up the JUCO baseball fields. At Ohlone College (Calif.), the scrappy athlete mashed the baseball. In 80 games, he hit .337 with 24 doubles, three triples and eight home runs. He tortured starting pitchers on the base paths, stealing 43 bags in 45 attempts.
When Shaddix was growing up, he tried his hand at every sport. His natural speed and athleticism allowed him to excel at several but baseball always held a certain fascination in his mind. While his neighborhood friends differed to football, Shaddix practiced his swing and speed on the basepaths.
“I knew I wanted to pursue baseball to the college level pretty early in high school,” says Shaddix. “The game has meant wonders for me through the years.”
After a strong high school career, Shaddix took his talents out west to play junior college baseball in California, hoping to prove his skill set and reach an even higher level.
“Committing to a junior college in Fremont, California, was a huge change of pace for me,” he said. “I was a little nervous because it would be a totally different atmosphere and I wouldn’t really know anybody.”
The nerves didn’t show on the field of play. In his most recent year with Ohlone, Shaddix posted a 1.065 OPS. Ohlone finished the year with an impressive 32-11 record, ranking in the top 25 of JUCOs nationally. After a successful season, now Shaddix is looking ahead.
“I was truly blessed enough to commit to Division I Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas,” he said.
Shaddix’s road is far from over, as he now prepares for a new level of competition.
SFA will play some of the very best in the state of Texas in the upcoming season and will need the kind of production from its new talent, including Shaddix and his exciting skill set.
Shaddix believes this is just another step in the long road to professional baseball, and he is loving the journey.
