Georgia "tek"

June 6, 2010 | Boston Herald | By John Tomase



BALTIMORE - Matt Wieters is one of the best young players in baseball, but during his college career, he just wanted to measure up to Jason Varitek.


Like Varitek, the switch-hitting Wieters caught at Georgia Tech, where the Red Sox captain simply owns the record books. The comparisons between the two were inevitable during the Baltimore Orioles catcher’s three years at the ACC school (2005-07), and as he embarks on his own major league career, he considers Varitek an influence.


“He was the symbol of what a college baseball (player) is supposed to be,” Wieters said yesterday. “Being there four years, owning almost all of the records as far as hitting, and as a catcher. He was the ultimate competitor then like he is now.”


Wieters isn’t kidding about Varitek’s place in the Tech record books. Varitek is the Yellow Jackets’ all-time leader in hits (351), home runs (57), total bases (610), games (253), runs (261), RBI (251) and doubles (82). He left college with a lifetime average of .384 and a slugging percentage of .667.


Wieters was no slouch, either, batting .359 with 35 homers and 198 RBI in three seasons before being selected fifth overall in the 2007 draft by Baltimore. The 24-year-old reached the majors last year and has the potential to be a perennial All-Star. The same things were said about Varitek during his time at Tech (1991-94).


“It’s something that was always put on you coming through Georgia Tech as a catcher, especially if you’re a switch hitter,” Wieters said. “There were a lot of comparisons. You got compared to Varitek and (fellow alum and New York Yankees first baseman) Mark Teixeira, since they’re two of the best college hitters that came through as switch hitters.”


Varitek lives in Georgia during the offseason and stays in regular contact with Yellow Jackets coach Danny Hall. The Sox catcher started hearing good things about Wieters practically from the first day he hit campus.


“Just the things you like to hear,” Varitek said. “He’s a good kid, works, does his stuff, and he’s very talented on top of that. Those are things you like to hear. I hear that he’s just a good dude. Add that with ability, and I think you have a lot.”


The two crossed paths at banquets during the younger player’s college career, but they didn’t really talk until Wieters made the big leagues last year. By that point, Wieters felt like he already knew Varitek, thanks to all the stories he heard from Hall.


“Coach Hall would always tell me he didn’t have to manage when Varitek was back there,” Wieters said. “He just took control. He’d sit back and let Varitek be his manager on the field. He didn’t need to make trips to the mound or anything like that. Varitek ran the game.”


Wieters hopes to follow in Varitek’s footsteps.


“I’d love to have his career,” he said. “It would definitely be something to have his rings and his long career.”