Honors
2015 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll
Career Game Highs
Innings Pitched: 4.2, 2/28 vs. UIC
Strikeouts: 8, 2/28 vs. UIC
Hits Allowed: 4, 3/22 at Middle Tennessee
Walks Allowed: *3, last 3/1/15 vs. Illinois State
Runs Allowed: 5, 2/28 vs. UIC
COACH CORBIN QUOTE: Joey is a ‘program player’…he loves the program and is willing to do anything that he can to serve it. We have used him out of the bullpen the last two seasons, but he will be transitioning to the catching position and learning behind Jason Delay this year. His arm strength, his willingness to learn and his work habits will allow him to grow and possibly help us in some way.
2016 – Pitched in seven games, including his first career start, posting a 5.40 ERA over 16.2 innings… Started the first game of his career at Middle Tennessee going four innings and allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts in a no decision… Gave up one run on three hits over three innings of relief vs. NIU 3/15… Dominated over four scoreless innings vs. Radford 3/9 to earn his first save, allowing only a single and striking out seven… Allowed a career-high five runs on three hits across a career-best 4.2 innings vs. UIC 2/28 with a career-high eight strikeouts… Tossed a scoreless inning in season debut against San Diego 2/20… SUMMER BALL – Pitched in 12 games, six starts, for Lakeshore in the Northwoods League going 1-4 with a 4.55 ERA
2015 – Worked a scoreless frame vs. Belmont 4/14 allowing two hits… Tagged for two runs on two hits and two walks in one inning vs. Quinnipiac 3/10… Walked three and allowed two inherited runs to score along with two of his own while recording just one out vs. Illinois State 3/1… Struck out the side in a scoreless frame vs. Illinois State 2/27… Punched out the side in one scoreless inning vs. Illinois State 2/27… Gave up a run on one hit in one inning vs. UT-Martin 2/24 striking out two… Made his collegiate debut against Santa Clara 2/14 with 1.1 scoreless innings with three walks and two strikeouts.
High School – Lettered four years in baseball at historic Central HS in Little Rock, Ark…. Served as team captain in 2013 and 2014… His team advanced to the state tournament in all four seasons… Tabbed the Wendy’s High School Baseball Player of the Year in 2014… Arkansas All-State player in 2014… Named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s All-Arkansas Prep squad in 2014… All-conference and all-state tournament team performer in 2013 and 2014… Graduated high school Cum Laude… Played summer ball or high school with Vandy teammates Kyle Wright, Tristan Chari and Collin Snider as well as Kyle Conger (Belmont), Matt Cogen (Old Dominion), Will Gardner (Tenn. Tech), Tyler Brown (Lipscomb) and Brady Puckett (Lipscomb).
Academics – Abraham is majoring in economics. He was a first-year SEC Academic Honor Roll member in 2014-15 and followed up with a SEC Honor Roll selection in 2015-16.
Personal – James Joseph Abraham… Born 4/29/96 in Little Rock, Ark…. Son of Jim and Patty Abraham… Has two brothers, Nathan and Ben… Great grandfather is in the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame… Favorites include: Troy Tulowitzki (player), St. Louis Cardinals (team), Bull Durham, The Sandlot, Talladega Nights, Wedding Crashers (movies), Quick Pitch, Friday Night Lights (TV shows), Will Ferrell (actor), Justin Moore and George Strait (music)… Says he would be a doctor if not an athlete… Can play the piano… Roommates with Jeren Kendall, Kyle Smith and Jordan Sheffield… Lists his eight-inning, 15-strikeout no hitter in the 2013 state tournament as his most memorable athletic moment… Recipient of the Athletic Department scholarship… Chose Vanderbilt because “the atmosphere at Vanderbilt is like no other place and I saw myself fitting in very well here. It is the perfect blend of academics and athletics.”