Leo Jimian, the first French-trained player to compete at the NCAA Division 1 level, has gotten off to hot start at East Tennessee State University (ETSU), bashing two home runs while batting .455 in his first eight games at the top level of amateur competition in the United States.
This past weekend saw the ETSU Bucs travel to Winthrop University, with Jimian going hitless in an 0-for-4 effort on Friday but rebounding Saturday with two hits, including a double, and three runs scored.
In 22 at-bats in the young 2022 season, Jimian has already collected 10 hits and had two multi-RBI games, with his coming-out-party occurring on February 27th against Wagner University, when he went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and four runs scored.
Since starting the season’s first two games on the bench, Jimian has been a constant presence in the Bucs’ starting lineup.
The center fielder transferred to ETSU, located in Johnson City, TN, after a strong 2021 campaign at Clarendon College (Texas), where he put together a .402/.453/.640 slash line in 52 games.
He also represented France at the 2021 European Championship in Turin, Italy, going a combined 0-for-10 in the first three games of the tournament before tallying four hits in France’s final three contests. France finished a disappointing 15th, just ahead of Slovakia in the 16-team field.
On Tuesday, Mar 8, Jimian and the 6-3 Bucs travel to Clemson, SC, to take on the 10-0 Clemson Tigers.