By MATTHEW M. BURKE

    Orleans’ first baseman Jose Jimenez from the University of Tampa is used to winning. His Spartans won the Division II national championship two years in a row – in 2006 and 2007. 

    Jimenez was named a team captain as a sophomore.

    Now the Miami native finds himself playing baseball on Cape Cod, as the first baseman for the eastern division’s second place Orleans Cardinals, who after a heartbreaking loss to the first place Y-D Red Sox on June 30, losing 4-3 in the 12th inning as darkness crept in, have a 9-5 record. They are two points ahead of Chatham and three behind Y-D, last year’s Cape League champion. 

    Unlike a lot of players who come to the Cape primarily looking to refine their game or to get noticed by professional scouts, Jimenez just wants to win. In fact, despite the young season, he is concerned with little else.

    “Yea, [that was a tough loss],” he said moments after Y-D’s Nick Romero (San Diego State) singled in the winning run. “If we had won we probably would have been in first place by the points or whatever. It’s still early though…We’re just trying to gel together as a team and make a run here. That’s all we’re really worried about now.”

    Through June 30th, Jimenez was tied for third on the Cardinals in batting average (.250), total bases (16), and hits (10), in 40 at-bats. He is also ranked third on the team in slugging percentage with .400.

    The stocky left handed slugger has exhibited quick wrists and power this summer as he quietly improves, putting up better and better numbers as he adjusts to the level of talent going forward, against mostly Division I opponents. Jimenez can hit to both fields and was raised on wood bats by his father, who he said would not allow him to use aluminum. Jose said that after a season with aluminum it takes him about a week to feel comfortable with wood again.

    On June 22nd against Brewster, Jimenez knocked the cover off the ball every time he stepped up to the plate. He almost hit for the cycle (missing it by a double), going 3-4 with a two run homer in the ninth for the win, 2-0 over the Whitecaps.

    “Some guys are given speed, ya know,” he said in regard to his mechanics and raw power. “I was just given the ability to put the ball in play at least most of the time, so, that’s just what I try and do; put the ball in play as many times as I can. Hopefully something good will happen.”

    Jimenez said that coming from a top tier Division II program like Tampa has exposed him to Division I type talent prior to this summer. On his team, they have players who either transferred from Division I programs or turned them down to play for the Spartans. He said that he has been adjusting to the level of play as the summer has progressed and his numbers are steadily climbing (his batting average had gone up .100 in about a week and a half).

    “Its good,” he said of his experience thus far in the nation’s premier summer league. “A lot of different baseball from what I’m used to, but its just a little adjustment period, and then I think I’ll be fine…There’s some days where I feel good and there’s some days where I can see that it’s a little bit different but I just keep my head up and keep trying.”

    Jose is the son of Josefina and Domingo Jimenez. He grew up in Miami, attending Miami Pace High School where he batted .485 as a senior with seven homers and 31 RBI. He was named Dade County Hitter of the Year.

    Jimenez recalls growing up surrounded by baseball, which was his father’s passion. Domingo Jimenez played baseball and handed his son a bat and ball set when he was born, Jose said. “It’s been there my whole life,” he added.

    Two years of Sunshine State Conference play have garnered Jimenez, not only two national championships, but also First Team All-SSC honors as a freshman, in addition to being named SSC Freshman of the Year. He was also a third team All-American, batting .384, with 78 hits, 63 RBI, and 17 homers. 

    And despite having a slightly less productive season in 2007, Jimenez still hit .298 with 67 hits, 14 home runs, and 48 RBI. He led the team in home runs and walks and also displayed versatility in the field, being moved from first base to third base halfway through the year. He still finished leading the team with 62 fielded double plays, and putouts, with 415. Jimenez finished the season with a more than respectable .981 fielding percentage. He hopes to rebound next season and to win his third consecutive national title.

    “Its been great,” he said of his time thus far at Tampa. “We’ve won two national championships, I can’t ask for anything else.”

    Jose is currently a secondary education major at Tampa in hopes of becoming a physical education teacher and baseball coach should he not fulfill his dreams of playing professional baseball. When asked if he has any hobbies, or even other activities that he participates in, he cannot think of any besides sleeping and watching television because his life revolves around baseball. There is no time for anything else.

    “Playing pro ball has always been my goal since I was young kid,” said the slugger who reminds of Prince Fielder when he swings a bat. “We’ll see how everything goes, but hopefully I will have a chance to play pro ball in the future.”

    Jose said that the Cardinals have been off to a great start thus far this season but he added that nobody on the Cardinals team is complacent; they want to finish strong and make it to the playoffs, where anything can happen. “We’ve had some tough losses so far,” he said. “We just gotta keep hitting, keep pitching, playing some D, and hopefully we’ll be there at the end.”