Third baseman Gavin Grahovac named SEC's Freshman of the Week

He doesn’t look like a freshman.

He doesn’t play like a freshman.

But he is a freshman.

And Gavin Grahovac is the Southeastern Conference’s Freshman of the Week following Texas A&M’s bludgeoning of Vanderbilt at Blue Bell Park.

"The guys let me know every single day that I'm still a freshman, but I just want to continue to have fun, know my role on the team, continue to be a great teammate and contribute the way I have,” Grahovac said with a laugh on Sunday.

On the weekend, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound fish went 5-for-11 vs. Vanderbilt pitching. He drove in three. He homered twice.

Most impressively, he scored eight times.

In a series in which the Aggies scored 36 runs, nobody cued “Rattlin’ Bog” more than Grahovac.

“You saw the whole crowd,” Grahovac said of the Irish folk addition to Blue Bell’s playlist. “Everyone was screaming. Everyone was happy, jumping around, so if you score a run, get ready to jump.”

On Saturday, Grahovac set the tone when he launched a 432-foot, 110 mph missile to left center in the bottom of the first inning.

Matthew Pena, TexAgs

As the leadoff hitter, Grahovac is the first man in what has become a murderer’s row of a lineup.

In a 9-0 victory, the leadoff nuke proved to be the winning run.

Trailing 4-2 in the fifth on Sunday, the Californian again provided a big-time spark.

His 13th round-tripper of the year jump-started a six-run frame that allowed the Aggies to run away with a series sweep.

"We came out and wanted to compete," Grahovac said. "That's what we continue to want to do, and that's what we continue planning to do.”

In the first 36 games of his collegiate career, Grahovac is slashing .327/.423/.660. A stalwart atop the A&M order, he has scored 49 runs and driven in 42.

In SEC play, the youngster is hitting .319 with nine home runs and 19 RBI. Only Golden Spikes candidate Braden Montgomery has more (10 and 21).

Grahovac is well on his way to Freshman All-American honors.

Monday’s recognition is just the first of many more to come.