Who is Gabby Jimenez? Getting to know USU softball’s star player
Before Gabriella Jimenez steps up to the plate for the Utah State softball team, she rubs some dirt on her hands and takes a deep breath to clear her mind. And then she’s entirely in the moment — ready to bash.
This was fully apparent from her performance during USU’s 15-7 win over Montana on February 20 in St. George, in which she stepped to the plate and hit three home runs, tying a single-game school record. Oh, and she did it in just three plate appearances.
With her three home runs today, @GabriellaJimen8 has tied the single-game school record! She matches the three Kelley Kaneshiro hit against Northern Colorado on April 27, 2008!#AggiesAllTheWay
— USU Softball (@USUSoftball) February 20, 2021
It was just one of those days for the junior catcher and first baseman from Sacramento, Ca, where everything seemed to go right. It wasn’t that it was some out-of-body experience, in fact, Jimenez appeared to be nonchalant about the whole thing like it was just another day at the ballpark. The only thing that surprised her was that the opposing pitchers kept throwing her pitches down the middle.
To be able to accomplish such a feat, and be so poised about it, can be credited to the way Jimenez approaches every game.
“Something that’s going through my mind is to not take anything for granted since last season got cut short,” she said.
2020 was cut short for her and the rest of her teammates due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which started just a few weeks into their season.
“I take advantage of every at-bat and I just love hitting,” she said.
Beyond the three-home run game, Jimenez’s at-bat production 13 games into the season has been outstanding.
Name an offensive statistical category, she probably ranks first or second on the team in it. For players with a minimum of two plate appearances per game, No. 26 on the field is No. 1 in the following: Slugging percentage (.698), Runs (11), RBI’s (14), and Home Runs (6).
USU head coach, Steve Johnson, can’t help but be amazed by Jimenez’s abilities swinging the bat.
“Gabby’s been blessed with incredible hands. There are certain parts that are taught and there are certain parts you’re just born with and she has just tremendous natural skill sets” he said. “Sometimes there’s not a good answer for it, she’s just blessed with some gifts that you can’t explain sometimes.”
But for those who haven’t been closely following Jimenez, her emergence as arguably the best player on the Aggie roster may come as a surprise.
Jimenez started playing softball at seven years old, and for a while, balanced between that and soccer. Eventually, when her mom told her she had to choose between the two, she realized she loved softball more and went all in.
Playing for a Sacramento travel ball team, she was able to play with the same girls nearly her entire childhood, creating lasting friendships while developing as a player. By the time she was in high school, Jimenez was really good, batting .547 her senior year at McClatchy High School and earning “All-Metro” honors each of her four years.
Thanks to her phenomenal play and the help of her travel ball coaches, who knew a lot about the recruiting process, she was offered a scholarship to come to play at Utah State.
When Jimenez arrived in Logan for the 2018-2019 season, she went from being — as Coach Johnson explained it — a big fish in a little pond, to a little fish in a big pond. She played in just 21 of 40 games her Freshman year, starting in 14, and had a batting average of .240.
Jimenez credits 2019 graduate Bailey Lewis for helping her accumulate the mental and physical challenges of playing division one softball. Lewis grew up in Rocklin, Ca, a suburb of Sacramento, and was the starting catcher for Utah State for three seasons. Being from the same town and playing the same position, Lewis quickly became somebody Jimenez could trust.
“I could always go to her if I needed something. I could always ask her questions and she helped me mentally to get to where I am today for sure,” she said. “She got me tough and all that.”
Jimenez worked hard in preparation for her Sophomore season and earned herself a spot in the starting rotation. She had a nice start to the season, batting .279, hitting three home runs, and a team-high seven doubles. But due to Covid-19, the season was shut down just 24 games in.
It was a difficult thing for Jimenez to accept because she finally earned a starting role on the team and was just hitting her stride. But she was determined not to lose any momentum and entered the 2021 season-ready start-up again where she left off.
13 games in, she has been just as good as last season; and then some. She has had her entire childhood — and then two and a half years of working hard in college — to prepare for this moment. A full season to shine at the NCAA division one level, the greatest league the amateur softball world has to offer.
“I think the biggest thing for Gabby is she’s always had the talent but just as she has grown and matured as a person in her time here at college,” Johnson said. “She’s got confidence in herself and her ability and that’s certainly paid off in her play this year.”
Having all the attention on her is something Jimenez has never experienced, but it’s something that she’s prepared herself for.
“Honestly I’ve never had this moment,” she said. “I’m always humble and I just love the game, I don’t let it get to me, like bigger than it is. But it’s fun. It’s exciting.”
That takes us back to Saturday, February 20, 2021, which will be remembered in Utah State history as the day Gabby Jimenez hit three home runs in just three at-bats.
“I don’t know what was going through my mind,” she said about hitting the third one.
She said it almost like she felt bad as if she should have been thinking something spectacular as she rounded the bases. But here’s the thing. She didn’t need to think about anything. Because she was doing something spectacular, playing out something she loves entirely in the moment. And arguably, nothing is better than that.