AUBURN - J.P. Arencibia has a humble attitude that one wouldn't expect from a kid who was just drafted in the first round by a major league baseball team.
Even after the Auburn Doubledays beat Batavia on a walk-off three-run homer, the well-spoken catcher, with a big grin and an easy-going manner, could have just as easily been returning from the beach rather than watching a ball fly over the right-field fence at Falcon Park.
It is that stabilizing persona that is one of the many reasons that Doubledays manager Dennis Holmberg believes that big things could be in store for the Toronto Blue Jays 21st overall pick.
“It's early but he hasn't shown a very emotional high about himself,” Holmberg said. “We haven't played but three games and he hasn't shown an emotional low about himself.”
The 21-year-old was drafted out of Tennessee, where he started slugging through the Volunteers' record book from the second he stepped into Lindsey Nelson Stadium. He was the SEC's Freshman of the Year and was selected as a finalist for the Coleman Company Johnny Bench Award as a sophomore, given to the nation's best catcher.
By the time Arencibia finished his junior year, his numbers and accolades were nothing less than eye-catching. He was a multiple All-American and was in the top 10 of five of the Vols' offensive categories.
Arencibia was batting .330 and decided to forgo his senior year at Tennessee.
“You're a first-rounder and you don't go much higher than that,” he said. “I thought it was time for me to start my professional career.”
Arencibia was previously drafted by Seattle as a senior for Westminster Christian High School in Miami, FL. The Mariners took the all-state and Dade County Player of the Year in the 17th round in 2004.
“I wasn't prepared mentally or physically yet,” he said. “I still had some room to grow as a player, and I had set goals for myself as far as the draft. I saw myself as a high draft pick and the 17th round wasn't a good opportunity.”
Besides a promising future at Tennessee, Arencibia landed a spot on the USA Baseball National team in 2005 and 2006. In 2006, he led the team to a 28-2-1 record and a gold medal.
He paced USA with nine home runs and was second in RBIs, doubles and triples. Arencibia batted .306 and was named the Most Valuable Player in the tournament.
The honor and title has been the highlight of Arencibia's career thus far.
Of course, being drafted in the first round by Toronto is high up there too. Arencibia has played just a few games for Auburn, and played his first full game last Friday. After not seeing a pitch for over a month, he is batting .273 with an RBI and a run.
“I'm in there now and I've got to adjust every at-bat and get back into my form,” Arencibia said. “I really haven't had any time to prepare until my first game (Wednesday) and I got a hit. Little by little, I'll feel better.”
He likes his new surroundings.
“It's a nice place; I think it's cool,” he said. “Everybody has been nice, everybody has been welcoming. I live right downtown so everything is in walking distance.”
Doubleday fans might not want to get too attached though. Holmberg admits he is not in charge of such things, but using past Blue Jays' first-round prospects as a measuring stick, he does not expect Arencibia to call Auburn home for long.
“Catching is a scarce commodity, especially at the major league level for us in our organization - as it is in most organizations,” he said. “I would venture to say that he would have a very good opportunity to be able to move from here to Lansing or Dunedin
probably after a about a month, month and a half. A lot of guys have come in here and done their thing and moved on.“
It is that stabilizing persona that is one of the many reasons that Doubledays manager Dennis Holmberg believes that big things could be in store for the Toronto Blue Jays 21st overall pick.
“It's early but he hasn't shown a very emotional high about himself,” Holmberg said. “We haven't played but three games and he hasn't shown an emotional low about himself.”
The 21-year-old was drafted out of Tennessee, where he started slugging through the Volunteers' record book from the second he stepped into Lindsey Nelson Stadium. He was the SEC's Freshman of the Year and was selected as a finalist for the Coleman Company Johnny Bench Award as a sophomore, given to the nation's best catcher.
By the time Arencibia finished his junior year, his numbers and accolades were nothing less than eye-catching. He was a multiple All-American and was in the top 10 of five of the Vols' offensive categories.
Arencibia was batting .330 and decided to forgo his senior year at Tennessee.
“You're a first-rounder and you don't go much higher than that,” he said. “I thought it was time for me to start my professional career.”
Arencibia was previously drafted by Seattle as a senior for Westminster Christian High School in Miami, FL. The Mariners took the all-state and Dade County Player of the Year in the 17th round in 2004.
“I wasn't prepared mentally or physically yet,” he said. “I still had some room to grow as a player, and I had set goals for myself as far as the draft. I saw myself as a high draft pick and the 17th round wasn't a good opportunity.”
Besides a promising future at Tennessee, Arencibia landed a spot on the USA Baseball National team in 2005 and 2006. In 2006, he led the team to a 28-2-1 record and a gold medal.
He paced USA with nine home runs and was second in RBIs, doubles and triples. Arencibia batted .306 and was named the Most Valuable Player in the tournament.
The honor and title has been the highlight of Arencibia's career thus far.
Of course, being drafted in the first round by Toronto is high up there too. Arencibia has played just a few games for Auburn, and played his first full game last Friday. After not seeing a pitch for over a month, he is batting .273 with an RBI and a run.
“I'm in there now and I've got to adjust every at-bat and get back into my form,” Arencibia said. “I really haven't had any time to prepare until my first game (Wednesday) and I got a hit. Little by little, I'll feel better.”
He likes his new surroundings.
“It's a nice place; I think it's cool,” he said. “Everybody has been nice, everybody has been welcoming. I live right downtown so everything is in walking distance.”
Doubleday fans might not want to get too attached though. Holmberg admits he is not in charge of such things, but using past Blue Jays' first-round prospects as a measuring stick, he does not expect Arencibia to call Auburn home for long.
“Catching is a scarce commodity, especially at the major league level for us in our organization - as it is in most organizations,” he said. “I would venture to say that he would have a very good opportunity to be able to move from here to Lansing or Dunedin
probably after a about a month, month and a half. A lot of guys have come in here and done their thing and moved on.“
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