T.J. Bass
Four baseball games played late last month in Arizona proved the ideal microcosm of T.J. Bass’s college career.
The former Greenwood standout made the most of his time in the heat, occupying two different spots in Taylor University’s batting order — third and cleanup. Defensively, the junior played catcher and left field, and he found time to be a designated hitter and pinch hitter.
Furthermore, Bass went 8 for 18 at the plate, including a four-hit performance in the Trojans’ 20-8 defeat of San Diego Christian College.
On a baseball diamond, Bass maintains no permanent address.
He likes it that way.
“My freshman year, I was a catcher who transitioned to the outfield. As a sophomore, I played third base, and last year I caught, played first base, all three outfield spots and DH’d,” Bass said. “I really like the outfield, just kind of being in my own world.
“It’s fun to run around and make plays. And it’s definitely helped to keep my body healthy not catching every day.”
A catcher/third baseman while playing for his father, Andy, in high school, Bass widened his overall scope once at Taylor. His ability to play most anywhere — and a willingness to do so — makes him an indispensable part of Taylor’s baseball successes the past three seasons.
Little wonder he’s started 128 games in his Taylor career, a number that would be much higher if not for the COVID-shortened 18-game schedule in 2020. Other career numbers include 26 doubles, 21 home runs, 100 RBIs, 73 runs scored and a .315 batting average.
Granted an additional season of athletic eligibility because of the pandemic, Bass plans to play for the Trojans in the spring of 2023 as well.
“There are a lot of things that played into my decision to come back next season,” Bass said. “I’ve loved this game since I was little, but it also helps academically.”
Initially undecided on a major, Bass chose elementary education the second semester of his freshman year (2018-19). The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder has since observed teachers and interacted with students from kindergarten and third-, fifth- and eighth-grade classrooms in the Muncie and Marion areas.
He believes he’s best suited to eventually teach middle school social studies.
In the meantime, Bass continues to be Mr. Here, There and Everywhere for Taylor baseball.
Taylor continues its season today with a four-game series at the University of Tennessee Southern. From there, the Trojans play three games in Georgia against St. Thomas and Reinhardt on Feb. 11 and Tennessee Wesleyan the following day.
If that means roaming the outfield for the opening game of a doubleheader and donning catcher’s equipment in the nightcap, so be it. The same applies if he’s penciled in at first base, or, as was the case in this season’s opener, the designated hitter in the cleanup spot.
“Early in my (college) career, I had a great conversation with my dad about being as versatile as I could be, and I think that has helped lead to our program having the best shot at winning,” said Bass, referring to the Trojans’ 90-45 record since he’s been there.
“At first, it was a little different because my body wasn’t used to it. But as my career has gone on, my body has adjusted.”
