Kole Kaler is ready for next challenge at Texas A&M
QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. (BVM) 鈥� Kole Kaler is no stranger to new beginnings. In fact, not only has he shown the ability to acclimate to different environments, but thrive in them.
The former Queen Creek High School baseball standout was a career .382 hitter for the Bulldogs. He wrapped up his prep career hitting .420 with 13 RBIs and 23 stolen bases as a senior in 2017, but the productivity didn鈥檛 result in Division I interest.
Kaler instead found a suitor just 30 miles south at South Mountain Community College (AZ). Although the junior college route wasn鈥檛 ideal, it was necessary.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 where I learned to grind,鈥� Kaler said of his time at South Mountain. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where my playing style comes from. It鈥檚 kind of molded from being out there every day with the guys, going to war every day at practice and just competing. It was a big blessing to go to South Mountain out of high school and I think I needed to go the junior college route.鈥�
While Kaler believed he needed to take the JUCO route, his immediate contributions at South Mountain indicated what he knew all along: he belonged in the Division I ranks.
As a freshman in 2018, Kaler scored 34 runs, hit nine doubles, three home runs and stole 15 bases as South Mountain won the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) title. He followed that up with a .318 average, 40 RBIs, 48 runs, eight doubles, four triples and five home runs as a sophomore at South Mountain. Kaler鈥檚 seven sacrifice flies (conference-high), 31 multi-hit games and 14 multi-RBI games helped him earn second team All-ACCAC honors.
The incredible two-year run also led Kaler to his dream of playing Division I baseball at the University of Hawaii. It was in Honolulu that Kaler was finally afforded the opportunity to prove that he belonged among the nation鈥檚 best.
鈥淚 just wanted to prove to everybody that I could play Division I baseball and compete with some of the best guys in the country,鈥� Kaler said.
The former JUCO standout did just that.
Starting all 17 games at shortstop for the Rainbow Warriors in a shortened 2020 season, Kaler led the team in every offensive category except for walks and home runs. He led the conference in doubles (9), RBIs (17) and was one of four Big West players with a batting average over .400.
Kaler completed his inaugural season with Hawaii on a six-game streak which set the stage for a spectacular junior campaign.
鈥淭his is sick!鈥� –
Kole Kaler making it look easy— Spectrum Sports HI (@specsportshi)
The 5-foot-10 shortstop led the team in multi-hit games (21), four-hit games (3), stolen bases (15) and was named a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, an award for the nation鈥檚 top shortstop. Kaler credits his seamless transition from JUCO to Division I baseball to the Hawaii coaching staff for letting him play his game, but the on-court product was largely due to countless days of crafting.
鈥淚 just continued to stick to my work, trusted my work and believed in myself,鈥� Kaler said of the transition to Hawaii. 鈥淚 just had a lot of confidence going into the yard every day.鈥�
. with a 饾摲饾摢饾摻饾摼饾摶饾摢饾摰 cycle!!
1B, 2B, 3B, HR
— Hawaii Baseball (@HawaiiBaseball)
Perhaps the most memorable moment of Kaler鈥檚 tenure at Hawaii was April 10 against UC Riverside. He hit for the cycle, becoming the first Rainbow Warrior since 1996 and just the sixth UH player in school history to accomplish the feat. The memory is only a rival to one other moment: a game where Kaler hit a home run from both sides of the plate.
Kaler will have plenty of opportunity to create more memories at his next stop in the SEC. The Queen Creek native will once again take a leap up in competition and join Texas A&M in the fall for his senior season.
I can't thank UH enough for the past two years. Hawaii will always hold a special place in my heart. With that being said, I am extremely blessed to announce my commitment to Texas A&M University!
— Kole Kaler (@KoleKaler)
鈥淛ust the opportunity to go in and play in that conference is something I鈥檝e always dreamed of,鈥� Kaler said. 鈥淭he coaching staff felt right; those guys made me feel welcome as soon as I talked to them.鈥�
If his track record is any indication, it鈥檚 a safe bet that Kaler will be able to make an immediate impact with the Aggies. The former Hawaii standout鈥檚 high baseball IQ is what he believes sets him apart from other elite shortstops across the country, and it鈥檚 what he hopes propels him to a successful season in College Station and beyond.
鈥淭he goal is to play professional baseball so it鈥檚 about continuing to get my game out there and show people that I can play against the top of college baseball,鈥� Kaler said. 鈥淚 just have to continue to stick to the process, continue to believe in myself and continue to work. That鈥檚 what it comes down to.鈥�
