Alabama Baseball's TJ McCants Proving to be a Force in NCAA This Season
The No. 17 Alabama Crimson Tide is off to a hot start this season. Through the first five games, the baseball team is a perfect 5-0, including two run rule games and three shutouts.
Both sides of the ball have been nearly flawless with a solid pitching rotation, dominant bullpen, and explosive bats paving the way for the Crimson Tide’s early success. However, one player has already proven to be a force in the NCAA in 2024.
Alabama center fielder TJ McCants has had a stellar start to his career in crimson and white. The Ole Miss transfer made the decision to take his talents to the Capstone in July of 2023 after spending three seasons with the Rebels and has had incredible success so far.
McCants has recorded nine hits including three home runs, batted in 13 runs, drawn four walks, and has a .474 batting average.
According to the NCAA website, McCants is tied for the third-most runs batted in alongside Arizona State’s Isaiah Jackson and Santa Clara’s JonJon Berring. The only two players who have more are Presbyterian’s Joel Dragoo (15) and Troy’s Will Butcher (17).
When asked about McCants’ success thus far, head coach Rob Vaughn had nothing but positive things to say about the senior.
“I think he’s been great from day one,” said Vaughn. “I wish I could tell you we came in and did 55 things that just changed TJ McCants, we didn’t do anything. We kinda created an environment, helped him, I think the biggest thing, and he’d probably tell you, is we talked to him really early on about just being on time more consistently, that’s really the big thing we’ve done. He’s a worker, he’s got feel for the game and I think the players that have feel for the game and feel for themselves are really good at making some adjustments and he did and I think the thing I love about his at bats right now is there’s a lot of conviction to his swings… He’s been on time, he’s got himself in good counts, and he’s done damage when he’s got pitches to do damage on. He’s done it on all sorts of different pitches which is a little piece of who he is.”
As for McCants, he gives credit to the game plan for his achievements and takes everything as it comes.
“I’m just trying to hit the ball, that’s all, stay within the zone, lay off pitches outside the zone, just getting the barrel to the ball,” said McCants. “They put together for us a really good plan which I said last time and I’m just sticking to it. That’s all I’m doing, taking it game-by-game.”
