« Baseball 2021

T.J. Collett

School
Kentucky
Position
First Base
Major
Communications

Classroom

Collett graduated from the University of Kentucky last spring with a degree in communications. Throughout his undergraduate career, he was named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll in 2017 and earned three consecutive SEC Academic Honor Roll Selections (2018-2020).

This spring, Collett earned his master’s degree in communications.

Character

Collett is highly regarded as both a teammate and student-athlete. He was inducted into Kentucky’s Frank G. Ham Society of Character and named UK Athletics’ Mr. Wildcat last year.

He also earned the 2020 SEC Brad Davis Community Service Award and is a two-time member of the SEC Community Service Team (2018, 2019).

Community

Collett has been instrumental in Kentucky’s community outreach.

He is heavily involved with the NEGU, the Jessie Rees Foundation, whose mission is connecting families of young cancer patients, bringing awareness to their stories, offering them a network of resources, and sending their families encouragement. Collett has worked with them to bring children and their families to home games so that they can experience pregame activities on the field and in the dugout, as well as be announced during the game.

With NEGU, Collett has spearheaded an effort in which his team members deliver joy jars to young cancer patients. They are stuffed with toys, games, and other items to brighten the patients’ days while fighting their diseases.

Competition

Collett started all 52 games for the Wildcats in 2021. He amassed a .301 batting average and 59 hits, 16 home runs, 48 RBIs, and 39 runs scored. He tallied a career best .607 SLG% and led Kentucky in home runs, RBIs, and OPS (1.008).

For his career, Collett hit .280 with 163 hits, 145 RBIs, and 106 runs scored. He carries a .373 OBP and .549 SLG% throughout his five years.

Collett sits second on the Kentucky leaderboards in career home runs (42) and 10th in RBIs.