CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Texas A&M Corpus Christi baseball team will look to replace some serious pitching talent from their 2019 roster and Calallen product and junior John Gaddis is aiming to be the top man in the rotation.
Gaddis did not see much playing time his freshman year with the Islanders. He pitched just five times and threw for less than four innings during the season. He was a great player in high school but division one athletics is unpredictable and Gaddis was unsure he'd find his place.
"It's definitely scary not knowing what you are going to do, how you are going to contribute," Gaddis said.
It was not until his sophomore season that Gaddis had his breakthrough moment when head coach Scott Malone called on him to pitch against Sam Houston State, one of the best teams in the Southland Conference.
"We told him we need a starter," Malone said. "We said let's make it Friday night, the biggest game of the week and he just said 'give me the ball.'"
Gaddis was superb in the outing against the Bearkats that night. He struck out nine batters over five innings and allowed just three hits. It was a performance that paved the way to being the number one pitcher in their 2020 rotation.
For his catcher, Drake Osborne, he had seen Gaddis put in the work and his recent success does not come as a surprise.
"He comes out and practices with a plan, pitches with a plan," Osborne said. "He really goes out there and gives his best effort."
Gaddis pitched the first game for the Islanders in the 2020 Kleberg Classic at Whataburger Field. He pitched five innings with four strikeouts and allowed zero runs. A strong start the season for Gaddis and the Islanders will lean on him to pitch that way throughout the season.
