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Rust College Shortstop Heads for Seattle Mariners Farm Team

By Chris Wallace
Black College Wire

Rust College Shortstop James Hymon

Rust College baseball coach Avery Mason is still ecstatic that his senior shortstop was chosen in the major-league baseball draft and says James Hymon�s success is likely to jump start recruiting.

�It means a whole lot to the institution,� said Mason of Hymon�s selection. �Rust College hasn�t had a player drafted from its baseball program in the last 11 or so years. It feels good to know that a student athlete within your program had enough skills to be considered a professional prospect, and it helps with the future recruitment of student athletes to your baseball program who also have the same dream.�

Hymon was picked by the Seattle Mariners in the 18th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft. He will be playing for the Peoria Mariners, the single A farm team whose season opens Sunday, June 22.

"Well, it's a great learning experience to be drafted,� Hymon said. �It makes you feel elated to work for something so long and finally to get there.�

Hymon, a 6-foot, 170-pound senior, was majoring in political science before the draft. A native of Chicago, he garnered national attention after a stellar career in both high school and college ball. After his senior season at Leo High School in 1998, Hymon was drafted by the Colorado Rockies. However, he went on to Kishwaukee Junior College in Illinois, where he won the junior college national championship in 2000.

Following the season, he was drafted by the Chicago White Sox but did not play.

Hymon�s most recent stint, a two-year stay at Rust College, proved to be his most productive as he finished with 56 stolen bases in 2002, ranking first in NCAA Division III, and 43 stolen bases this past season, placing second in the division. He finished his two-year career with a .381 batting average, scored 81 runs, had 76 hits and stole 99 bases.

�James is what you call a silent leader as he leads with his skills and playmaking ability on an everyday basis,� said Mason. �Even at practice, he�s a constant professional. I remember his first day of practice. He stood out over everyone. I noticed that all of the returning players respected his game and always asked him questions on how to better their game.�

Hymon agrees that his style is a little different from that of some teammates in Holly Springs, MS. At 23, �I'm an older guy and my maturity separates me from others,� Hymon added. �My speed also brings a lot to the game." Though Hymon is from a small college that hasn�t had a player drafted in over a decade, Frank Maddox, scouting director for the Seattle Mariners, said the Mariner organization spotted his potential.

�We target everyone who is eligible for the draft. It doesn�t matter if the school is black, blue or green,� said Maddox. �As long as they are eligible, we select them, and one of our scouts recommended him.�

In sizing up a player, Maddox said major league teams are looking for �tools that we think will give him a chance to play at the major league baseball level,� added Maddox. �That means we see if he can hit, throw, run, field and also how he plays the game.�

Mason is convinced that it won�t be long before Hymon moves up.

�I feel that in due time, James Hymon will be playing in the major leagues because of his respect for the game, speed, defensive playmaking ability and his timely hitting. As coaches, we can�t wait for scouts to recognize the talent crop of black colleges. We have to do a better job of marketing our players.�

Hymon, who had expected to graduate from Rust College in December 2003 with a degree in political science, will now delay completing his degree.

Chris Wallace, a student at N.C. A&T State University, has been co-editor of The A&T Register.

June 18, 2003