« Baseball 2011

Chris Slater

School
Baylor
Position
Outfield
Major
Finance
AVG
.282
R
24
H
40
FLD%
.982
RBI
21

Classroom

Slater maintains a 3.98 GPA in finance and is on pace to graduate in May 2011. He’s a two-time recipient of the Academic Achievement Award, which is given to the Baylor student-athlete with the highest GPA. Slater has been named to the Dean’s List and Big 12 Conference Commissioner’s honor roll in all seven semesters and in 2010 was selected first-team Academic All-Big 12 and second-team Academic All-American. He’s the recipient of the Baylor President’s Scholarship, Baylor Achievement Scholarship and Hankamer School of Business Scholarship. Last summer Slater completed an internship with JPMorgan Chase and has been offered a full-time position within middle-market banking with the company.

Character

A member of the Baylor Leadership Academy, Slater co-coordinated the Gulf Coast Regional Center/JPMorgan Chase Blood Drive. As a sophomore, Slater was disappointed in his contributions on the diamond, so he spent several hours a week contemplating what to do and how to deal with not performing or contributing at a level in line with his capabilities. Throughout the season, he remained focused, stayed positive, continued to work hard and supported his teammates. Despite not seeing an immediate payoff, he learned how hard he could work and how hard you often have to work to overcome challenges and achieve success.  His competitive behavior, personal drive and strong work ethic contributed to an extremely successful fall prior to his junior season. Because of this success, he earned the role as the starting centerfielder on opening day in 2010.

Community

In January 2010, Slater participated in a six-day Humanitarian trip to Havana, Cuba, where he helped renovate a Soviet-era sports complex and hosted baseball clinics. He also has spent three days in League City, Texas, with Christians Organized for Relief Efforts, where he gutted four houses that were destroyed by Hurricane Ike. He has also participated in Baylor’s Santa Workshop, distributing toys to disadvantaged children, spoke at a local elementary school about living drug free during Red Ribbon Week, sorted and distributed food at Houston Food Bank and led an interactive exhibit and lesson on money management at Houston’s Children Museum.

Competition

After playing in just 35 games and making four starts in first two seasons at Baylor, Slater made 22 starts and saw action in 42 games in 2010. He hit .341 with 20 RBI, 22 runs and a team-leading .557 slugging percentage. Slater was one of only two players on the team to walk (10) more often than strikeout (9) and he committed just one error while playing center field and right field.