Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette named SEC Freshman of the Week

The big freshman has his first big honor.

On Monday, the Southeastern Conference announced that Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette had been named the league’s Freshman of the Week following the Aggies’ road-series victory at Auburn.

In four games last week, LaViolette led all SEC players with 10 RBI. He also clubbed a trio of home runs at Plainsman Park over a condensed weekend.

“This whole weekend has been huge for the whole team,” LaViolette said Friday night. “Really, everybody was committed to the fastball. Our approach was there.”

For the week, LaViolette was 6-for-15 (.400) with a pair of multi-hit games, including the first multi-homer game of his young career on Friday afternoon.

“It’s weird to say this, but I’m just not thinking,” LaViolette said. “I’m just going up there and having fun. This game, it’s baseball. I’ve been playing it since I was like four. Why did I start playing this game? Because it’s fun.”

In the first game of a Friday twin bill, LaViolette drove in five runs, finishing 2-for-4.

His two hits in the game both left the yard, but the Aggies lost in controversial fashion, 10-9.

While he did not showcase his raw power in the nightcap, an advanced approach at the plate ultimately helped the Aggies take the rubber match.

“Swing at the strikes and take the balls is like the number one thing I’m trying to focus on right now,” LaViolette said. “That was by far the most quality at-bats I’ve ever had against lefties. I was seeing the ball really well.”

LaViolette finished the finale 1-for-2 with a trio of walks, two of which came with the bases loaded.

With two more RBI, LaViolette and the Aggies downed Auburn, 12-6, for a second consecutive SEC series win as the Maroon & White now sit at 5-7 in conference, good for third place in the division.

The man-child from Katy Tompkins has been on a tear of late, hitting safely in 10 of his last 12 with 20 RBI over that stretch.

On the year, LaViolette is hitting .266 and leads the club with eight round-trippers and 34 driven in.

This is the first conference recognition of LaViolette’s debut season.

And there are likely more to come during his time in Aggieland.