Jimenez puts on show in CHIPS Performance Home Run Derby
Tech standout went toe-to-toe with the eventual champion with swing-off in the college champion final
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
OMAHA, Neb. – Jorsixt Jimenez put on a show on the national stage as he competed in the inaugural CHIPS Performance King of Swing Home Run Derby at Tal Anderson Field to preface the College World Series.
The field included some of the top sluggers in college and high school baseball with the event honoring a college and high school champion, then pitting the two against each other in a King of Swing finale.
In the opening round with a 1:30 timer, Jimenez got on the board with his third swing, knocking it over the left field wall, then got his second with about 50 seconds left. His third homer came with 36 seconds left. He knocked one back over the left field wall for his fourth, then went on a three-homer barrage in the final 20 seconds to end the first round with seven dingers.
It was a slow start for Jimenez in the second round, but he picked up in the final 50 seconds as he found a groove, hitting nine home runs in the round to finish the second round with 16 homers. Hunter Katschke (Utah Valley) at 18, Chase Fillman (2028 prospect) and Bear Calvo (Arkansas commit) both reached 17 to put Jimenez in fourth overall at the end of the second round and second in the college division.
In the final round – the college bracket – each batter had one minute. Jimenez knocked one out in the first 10 seconds, then got his second just before the 40-second mark. His third sailed over around the 30-second mark, then hit his fourth of the round with about 12 seconds left and finished with five just before time ran out. The performance tied his opponent, Easton Richter from Minnesota, forcing a swing-off to advance.
In the swing-off, Richter's first ball was short, but hit his second over the scoreboard and quickly added a second home run before forcing Jimenez to hit one over the wall on the first swing or hit two in the round. Jimenez's first landed in center field, then knocked a shot to left center for one, but his third swing went short, ending his night.
Richter won the college division and advanced to the King of Swing round with the college and high school champions facing off. Richter hit two, then high school champion Fillman hit none as Richter claimed the overall crown.
Jimenez, a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and a first-teamer on the Ohio Valley Conference all-conference teams, finished the season with a .401 average with 20 home runs, 69 RBI and 55 runs scored with 81 total hits. He touted an .817 slugging percentage and .483 on-base percentage.
As of this writing, Jimenez stands fifth in the NCAA in slugging percentage, 12th in batting average, tied for 31st in home runs, tied for 24th in RBI, tied for 66th in total hits and 53rd in on-base percentage.
