Around the Bases: AJ Walden, UAH
Last season, UAH's
AJ Walden, the 2015 GSC Freshman of the Year, hit .333 with 10 homeruns, 13 doubles and 48 RBI. He turned in three GSC Freshman of the Week honors (3/31-4/14), launched three homeruns against LeMoyne-Owen (4/7) and was behind the plate for six of his team's seven shutouts.
Get to know the redshirt sophomore from Albertville, Ala., as he highlights the first installment of the all-new GSC baseball Q&A series, "Around the Bases".
1. Who is your favorite professional baseball player?
AJW: "
Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals."
2. What is one of your favorite childhood memories that always sticks with you?
AJW: "I went to New York Yankees spring training in Tampa for a week."
3. Who has been the most inspirational person that has left a mark on your life?
AJW: "My pawpaw. He taught me how to carry myself the right way and to never take shortcuts in life, even if it does seem like it might be the easiest way."
4. What is one thing not a lot of people might know about you?
AJW: "I talk in my sleep, a lot…"
5. What is your favorite aspect of UAH?
AJW: "I enjoy how close all of the student-athletes are. It's like one big family."
6. What do you hope to achieve upon graduating from UAH?
AJW: "I hope for the opportunity to play baseball at the professional level."
7. What type of aspirations/career goals do you have off the field?
AJW: "After graduating, I would like to pursue a career in management and then, someday, open my own business dealing with cars. They have always intrigued me since I was young."
8. To this point in your career, what moment on the field resonates with you the most?
AJW: "My favorite moment so far was definitely winning the GSC Tournament in 2014."
9. To this point in your career, what coach has had the biggest impact on you?
AJW: "It would have to be my dad and Chris Brannon. Even though it was not always the easiest playing for them, they both taught me to always, 'go out and leave no doubt that you left it all on the field'. Those are still words I play by today."
10. What type of pregame rituals do you have?
AJW: "I listen to Pandora radio. I usually switch back on forth between 'Today's Country' and 'Today's Hip-Hop'."