AUBURN - Luke Hopkins is about as unassuming as a 6'1“, 240-pound first baseman can be.
After Saturday's game with Staten Island, the Albuquerque, NM native leads the Doubledays in hits (28), doubles (11), RBI (23) and walks (26).
His .275 batting average is also tops on the team, but Hopkins gives credit to anyone but himself.
“I just go out and play the game and try to help my team the best that I can,” Hopkins said. “I go out and strive to do well, but I have to thank all of my teammates as well because I would never have any of those opportunities if it wasn't for them.”
Hopkins has not been without his share of mishaps this season.
He had some trouble with his contact lenses as the Doubledays began their home series against Tri-City last week, giving him blurry vision.
While he did have an error at first base, Hopkins still had 10 putouts and then an RBI double at the plate in the losing effort.
The next afternoon, he dislocated the pinky finger on his right throwing hand during batting practice, causing him to sit out for the next two games.
In a slight southern drawl, Hopkins insists that neither incident was anything to worry about.
Especially since he overcame a bigger injury in his freshman year at New Mexico State, with physical scars left to prove it.
“Early in college, I tore ligaments in my right wrist and I had to redshirt because of it,” Hopkins said. “But because of this stupid little pinky, I had to sit. They just wanted to let it rest for a couple of days, but it feels fine now.”
Hopkins earned All-State, all-District and all-city honors at St. Pius X High School as the Spartans won a state championship in his senior year.
While a couple of other colleges were interested in him, he decided to remain close to home and play for the Aggies.
After batting .611, with four home runs and 14 RBIs in his third season with the team, Hopkins was drafted in the fifth round by the Toronto Blue Jays and decided to leave school early.
“I got a good draft and since I had a lot of college completed with three years under my belt, I just wanted to play baseball, just like every other kid would” Hopkins said. “I wanted to get started and see if I could make it. I'm really excited and I'm having a lot of fun this year.”
The patient slugger had a feeling for what he was in for when he moved from a big city to Auburn and he is loving every minute of playing for the Doubledays.
“I've been all over the country so it hasn't been that bad. I've adapted pretty well and I was expecting something like this little town for short-season A ball,” Hopkins said. “But I like it a lot here; it's not a bad place to be. To be honest, I'm just really happy to be here playing the game I love. I'd like to finish this season out strongly and do whatever I can to help this team win.”
His .275 batting average is also tops on the team, but Hopkins gives credit to anyone but himself.
“I just go out and play the game and try to help my team the best that I can,” Hopkins said. “I go out and strive to do well, but I have to thank all of my teammates as well because I would never have any of those opportunities if it wasn't for them.”
Hopkins has not been without his share of mishaps this season.
He had some trouble with his contact lenses as the Doubledays began their home series against Tri-City last week, giving him blurry vision.
While he did have an error at first base, Hopkins still had 10 putouts and then an RBI double at the plate in the losing effort.
The next afternoon, he dislocated the pinky finger on his right throwing hand during batting practice, causing him to sit out for the next two games.
In a slight southern drawl, Hopkins insists that neither incident was anything to worry about.
Especially since he overcame a bigger injury in his freshman year at New Mexico State, with physical scars left to prove it.
“Early in college, I tore ligaments in my right wrist and I had to redshirt because of it,” Hopkins said. “But because of this stupid little pinky, I had to sit. They just wanted to let it rest for a couple of days, but it feels fine now.”
Hopkins earned All-State, all-District and all-city honors at St. Pius X High School as the Spartans won a state championship in his senior year.
While a couple of other colleges were interested in him, he decided to remain close to home and play for the Aggies.
After batting .611, with four home runs and 14 RBIs in his third season with the team, Hopkins was drafted in the fifth round by the Toronto Blue Jays and decided to leave school early.
“I got a good draft and since I had a lot of college completed with three years under my belt, I just wanted to play baseball, just like every other kid would” Hopkins said. “I wanted to get started and see if I could make it. I'm really excited and I'm having a lot of fun this year.”
The patient slugger had a feeling for what he was in for when he moved from a big city to Auburn and he is loving every minute of playing for the Doubledays.
“I've been all over the country so it hasn't been that bad. I've adapted pretty well and I was expecting something like this little town for short-season A ball,” Hopkins said. “But I like it a lot here; it's not a bad place to be. To be honest, I'm just really happy to be here playing the game I love. I'd like to finish this season out strongly and do whatever I can to help this team win.”
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