TJ Foreman: Athletics Profile
THE SCHOLAR ATHLETE WITH THE GOLDEN GLOVE
(VENTURA COLLEGE 2019 MALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR)
TJ Foreman found tremendous success at Ventura College. Both on the baseball diamond and inside the classroom. You might even say he was Golden.
“At Ventura College, I really learned how to manage my time,” says the 20-year-old Camarillo native. “To stay on top of work and make sure I didn’t fall behind on anything. I had great teachers and a great support system and was able to develop some really good relationships there.”
TJ excelled in baseball at Moorpark High, but the gritty outfielder graduated weighing only around 145 pounds. Now six feet tall and a chiseled 175 pounds, TJ has truly come into his own. He hit a blistering .380 with 29 RBI, 44 runs and 30 stolen bases in 43 games during the 2019 baseball season, helping propel the Western State Conference-champion Pirates to a 26-17 record, including 13-7 in conference play. TJ led the Pirates in batting average thanks to his team-high 70 hits, and his 30 stolen bases not only led the team, but set a single-season school record. TJ was equally outstanding in the field, notching a perfect fielding percentage and earning a Gold Glove Award for his stellar centerfield play.
In the classroom, TJ was equally impressive, sliding safely onto the Dean’s List thanks to a perfect 4.0 GPA as a General Studies major. TJ’s performance in the classroom also helped his team earn an overall GPA of 3.24 and an Baseball Coaches Association Team Academic Excellence Award for the second straight season. One of three athletes to record a 4.0, TJ’s overall accomplishments also earned him the distinguished honor of being named Ventura College 2019 Male Scholar Athlete of the Year.
“That was pretty cool,” says TJ. “I was very fortunate and honored to be a part of that.” TJ also felt grateful to be part of what he calls a “really diverse” team during his two-year stint as a scholar-athlete at Ventura College.
“Baseball at Ventura College turned out to be the best experience I ever had, meeting a bunch of guys from all across the United States,” explains TJ. “We had guys from Arizona, the east coast, even Australia. We finished as one of the better teams to ever come through Ventura College. To be able to take all of that in, I’m very grateful for the opportunity.”
After earning his general studies degree, he moved on to Austin Peay State University, where he is majoring in leadership and organizational administration and competing in Division I baseball.
TJ’s heart still resides in the Ventura area and he hopes to return home to pursue a career in academic leadership once his baseball career comes to a close. He hasn’t ruled out pursuing professional ball, but he’s wisely planning for a life that extends well beyond
the diamond.
“I’d love to play pro baseball,” says TJ. “I’m doing everything in my power to make it happen. But I want to come back and get a Master’s – I’m on the fence between becoming a school teacher or a school administrator.”
One thing’s for sure: TJ is forever grateful for his time at Ventura College. And he certainly left his own mark on the school, too.
You might call it a win-win.