Derrick Workman

Classroom

Workman has been a star both on the baseball diamond and in the classroom while at Mercer. Workman currently has a perfect 4.0 GPA as a communications major. Workman has earned several academic accolades during his career with the Bears including being voted onto the A-Sun Conference All-Academic team as both a sophomore and junior. Workman also became one of just 11 players in the country to garner the highest academic honor in all of collegiate athletics when he was named a 2013 Capital One Academic All-America first team member during his junior campaign.

Character

Each individual will experience hardships and obstacles that seem insurmountable to overcome. During Derrick’s junior year of high school he was introduced to such heartache firsthand. On the night of January 24, 2009 Garrett Reed, a lifelong best friend and teammate of Workman’s, died in car accident. As the hours after the accident passed, Workman said the sense of teenage immortality soon vanished. Having to consult and hug his deceased friend’s parents was the toughest thing Derrick said he has done in his entire life. Workman’s personal relationship with Christ, his group of friends and family helped him cope with the situation. Garrett’s number in high school football was 11. On top of already being Workman’s favorite number, this only confirmed his decision to wear #11 at Mercer. Derrick writes inspiration from Garrett on the bill of each of his Mercer hats. A picture of Garrett has been in Workman’s locker since he started playing at Mercer. The times Derrick and Garrett shared and the memories they made together have only served to motivate Derrick during his baseball career. Garrett’s memory will live on forever and he will always be the most deserving #11. As a senior, Derrick would like nothing more than to honor Garrett’s memory by giving his best effort every day on the field for him. Garrett will be in Derrick’s heart forever and Garrett’s number will be on his back for one last collegiate season.

Community

During his time at Mercer, Derrick has participated in multiple community service projects. He has volunteered his time building houses for underprivileged citizens with Habitat for Humanity. He has also mentored and instructed children from the Boys and Girls Club of Central Georgia. While enrolled at Mercer this past fall, Workman spent 25 hours tutoring students at Miller Middle School. Each year Workman and his teammates play baseball with mentally and physically disabled children at Macon’s Miracle League. This organization has provided Derrick the honor and privilege to share the game he loves with some of the world’s most special children. Derrick has also volunteered time with other organizations his hometown of Acworth, Georgia. Each year in December Must Ministries of Metro Atlanta gathers toys and gifts for children in need. Working with Must, Workman has gathered and sorted Christmas presents and helped deliver them to families that could not afford Holiday gifts. Workman has also participated in multiple clothing drives conducted by his local Church. These clothing drives provide many underprivileged citizens with warm clothing throughout the winter months. Workman has said all these outreach opportunities have opened his eyes to the needs of others throughout his community. They have sparked a personal passion and desire to devote his time to serving others. Without these opportunities for service, he said he would not be the person he is today.

Competition

Workman has enjoyed a prolific baseball career at Mercer. The Acworth, Ga. native has a career batting average of .335 and has started 179 games thus far in his career. Workman tallied career-best totals with his .338 batting average, 45 runs scored, 17 doubles and 48 RBI last season. Workman is currently the A-Sun Active Career Leader with 126 runs scored, 223 hits, 42 doubles and 350 total bases. Workman is just 41 hits shy of breaking the all-time Mercer career record of 264 hits set by Tim Smith in 1980-1983. Workman has received plenty of recognition for his play over the years including being named a Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-American Team and a two-time A-Sun All-Conference first team performer. Workman’s most notable athletic honor came last season when he was one was one of just 60 players in the country named to the 2013 Midseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List.