Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raider Profile: Kelby Tomlinson
October 18, 2010 | Baseball
Oct. 18, 2010
Red Raider Profile - Kelby Tomlinson
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech baseball team is heading toward the end of its fall season, and throughout the remainder of the semester Texas Tech Athletics Communications will take an inside look into the Tech program with Red Raider Profiles on each player.
Kelby Tomlinson (INF - 6-3, 175 - R/R - RS Jr./TR - Elgin, Okla./Elgin/Seward County CC)
Texas Tech newcomer Kelby Tomlinson capped off his two-year stay in Liberal, Kan., with a National Baseball Congress World Series championship this past August. Following a successful two-year career at Seward County Community College - also in Liberal - Tomlinson was named Team MVP for the Liberal Bee Jays who captured the NBC title over the Seattle Studs, 9-6, on Aug. 13, in Wichita.
As a member of the Bee Jays, Tomlinson batted .339 (60-for-177) with 42 runs, 12 doubles, four triples, 28 RBI and 26 walks while only being thrown out once on the base paths, stealing 36-of-37 bases. In fact, Tomlinson stole 12-of-13 bases in the two-week NBC Tournament.
Baseball America tabbed Tomlinson as the No. 3 prospect from the Jayhawk Summer League, as the publication described him as the "league's best athlete."
His junior college career at Seward County ended with a bang when he was named a National Junior College Athletic Association All-American while also earning first team all-conference and first team all-region honors.
He batted .352 with and set a school record with 90 runs scored. His 28 stolen bases rank fourth in Seward County single-season history and he also posted 13 doubles, six triples, six home runs and 38 RBI.
"We really like Kelby," head coach Dan Spencer said. "He can do a lot of things. He is very athletic, has a very good arm and is a true shortstop. I think he will play shortstop up into professional baseball. There are really not a lot of things he can't do. We are very excited to have him."
Tomlinson and right-handed pitcher Hayden Holub were teammates at Seward County the past two seasons where they won a combined 70 games with the Saints. Seward County is the same junior college that produced former Red Raider right-handed pitcher Bobby Doran, who was a fourth-round pick (123rd overall) by the Houston Astros in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft.
