Outfielder Giambi Is Showing Titans a Glimpse of Future

The question was posed as soon as Jerry Giambi finished rounding the bases and returned to the dugout at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha.

Giambi, an outfielder for Cal State Fullerton, had just slugged his first home run of the season during a victory over defending national champion Louisiana State in the College World Series. His teammates greeted him with congratulations, high fives and an incredulous inquiry: “Why did you wait so long?”

“They were on me because I had joked throughout the season that I was going to save my home runs for just the right time,” Giambi said. “I guess that was a pretty good time to break out.”

Fullerton, which had lost its World Series opener to Georgia Tech, was eventually bounced from the double-elimination tournament with another loss to the Yellow Jackets, who were defeated by Oklahoma in the championship game last weekend.

But by the time the Titans boarded their plane for the trip home to Southern California, Giambi had served notice that he will be a force to contend with the next two seasons.

Giambi, a former All-Southern Section player at South Hills High, homered again in Fullerton’s final game against Georgia Tech. He hit in all eight postseason games he played in and finished with a .458 batting average in the playoffs.

Giambi’s fast finish helped him conclude his redshirt freshman season with a .294 average and 22 runs batted in in 119 at-bats. Next season, Giambi is expected to be in the Fullerton starting lineup every day.

“He’s really starting to mature as a player, and that process took place from the beginning of the season to the end,” Fullerton Coach Augie Garrido said. “He’s a cornerstone player for our program.”

Giambi, 6-foot, 180 pounds, plans to build on postseason success this summer at the Cape Cod League.

“What I did in the regionals and World Series boosted my confidence 300%,” Giambi said. “To do well against that kind of competition shows you that you can be among the best.”

Giambi was one of the best players in the San Gabriel Valley in 1992 when he batted .407 and compiled a record of 8-2 with a 2.37 earned-run average for South Hills. He made a commitment to attend Fullerton shortly before his family left for Barcelona to watch his brother Jason compete for Team USA in the 1992 Summer Olympics. Jason Giambi, a former standout infielder at Long Beach State, is currently playing in the Oakland Athletics’ minor league system.

Once practices began at Fullerton, Jeremy recognized that the Titans were counting on three returning starting outfielders. He discussed the situation with the coaches and his father and decided to redshirt.

“I didn’t want to waste a year and only get 50 at-bats,” said Giambi, who practiced with the team every day.

Last summer, Giambi played for the Topeka Capitals in the Jayhawk League in Kansas, where he batted .280 overall and .560 in the playoffs.

He opened this past college season as Fullerton’s starting left fielder but batted .150 through the first seven games.

“It wasn’t like I was getting beat, but the hits weren’t falling,” Giambi said. “I left the coaches in a position to give other guys a chance.”

Giambi eventually worked his way back into the lineup and helped Fullerton win a share of the Big West Conference championship. He was in the starting lineup when the Titans opened play in the Midwest I Regional at Stillwater, Okla.

“I had been shaky throughout the season and had never really gotten into a groove,” Giambi said. “I’d have two good at-bats and then have two bad ones.

“Coming into the regionals, I felt I had something to prove. I hadn’t played to my full potential. But once the tournament started, every at-bat I took was great. And when I got to the World Series, it got even better.”

Giambi hopes to be a member of at least two more World Series teams at Fullerton before following his brother into professional baseball. This summer, he will concentrate on improving his defense and honing his swing.

“In high school, I was on the mound more than I was in the outfield, so I’m still learning about playing the position,” Giambi said. “I don’t want to be recognized only as a hitter. I want to be an all- around player.”