by Catherine Taylor
Staff Writer
Coming from humble beginnings in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, junior Houston Cougars center fielder Goefrey Tomlinson did not even know what a baseball was until he moved to the United States at age 11. Since then, he has learned not only what a baseball is, but how to master it.
Tomlinson's baseball career began with three balls and an old aluminum bat when he and his older brother would go out every summer and have batting competitions.
"It started with me and my older brother," Tomlinson said. "We'd both go out with a couple of balls and a bat and see who could hit the ball the farthest."
Tomlinson tested other sports while at Everman High School in Everman, Texas, but found his true talents lied with the bat and glove.
"I was a little too small for football," he said, "and a little too slow for track."
Though Tomlinson may have been a few steps shy in the 100-yard dash, when rounding the bases there is not a Cougar who can catch him. He finished the fall workouts for this season as one of the best all-around athletes, and was the fastest Cougar with a 60-yard dash time of 6.52 seconds.
Goefrey's road to the top of the lineup has not been an easy one. After being drafted in the 64th round of the major league draft by the New York Yankees, Tomlinson chose to play for the University of Houston instead of pursuing a pro career.
"It is pretty close to home," Tomlinson said of his decision to come to UH, "and also they gave me the best offer coming out of high school and a chance to play for a good athletic program."
Tomlinson suffered a season-ending injury in the middle of his freshman year when he fractured his right ankle, but he used the chance to strengthen himself physically and mentally.
"After I broke my ankle I couldn't do much on the field," he said, "so I went in the weight room and got stronger."
Tomlinson has gotten stronger in all aspects of his game, but nowhere more so than at the plate. Averaging only .215 his first two years, he more than doubled that this season, batting .434.
"It's been more confidence," Tomlinson said. "I worked hard in off-season and I feel more confident about my swing and what I can do at the plate."
Of Tomlinson's extraordinary play this season, coach Rayner Noble said he has been vital in establishing Houston as a competitive team.
"You're talking about somebody that's playing with a tremendous amount of confidence," Noble said. "He's making it happen at the top of the lineup and setting the table for all of our hitters in the middle of the lineup."
With all of his abilities and his exceptional play this season, Tomlinson should be drafted much higher the second time around. However, the modest outfielder maintains a level head about his major-league draft possibilities.
"Hopefully I can make it as a professional ball player, but for now, I just want to continue doing what I'm doing," Tomlinson said. "Everything else will work itself out from there."