For Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles baseball infielder Eddie Garza Jr., the game has always been a constant.
Garza Jr. has been playing baseball since he was six years old. Years later, now a veteran presence in the Golden Eagles’ infield, his mindset has shifted from personal performance to something bigger.
Before the season began, Garza Jr. said he made that clear to head coach Matt Bragga.
“All I want to do is win a championship, make a regional this year, and I will be happy,” Garza Jr. said. “I think I’ve learned to let go myself in terms of the game and just play for the guy next to me.”
Garza Jr. said his connection with Bragga has played a major role in that evolution. The two first crossed paths when Bragga was coaching at Rice Owls baseball. When Bragga later made the move to Tennessee Tech, Garza Jr. said Bragga reached out and brought Garza Jr. along with him.
“It’s been everything for me,” Garza Jr. said. “I think it’s definitely shaped not only my career but me as a human being and has changed a lot in my life that I love, especially spiritually.”
That growth has not come without challenges.
Like many hitters adjusting to the college level, Garza Jr. said he had to refine his approach at the plate. Early in his career, aggressiveness often worked against him, leading to quick outs and high strikeout totals. Over time, he has made a deliberate shift toward discipline and patience.
“Walks are super important,” Garza Jr. said. “Hitters in MLB and in college walk a lot, so trying to not strike out as much, and early in my career I would strike out a lot cause I was swinging a lot early in counts or getting myself out early in counts, and now it’s more trying to develop counts and be okay with hitting with two strikes.”
That adjustment has paid off, as Garza Jr. has shown improved on-base ability and the potential to be a difference-maker when he finds his rhythm. But for Garza Jr., the numbers are not the priority anymore.
Garza Jr. said baseball is a game built on failure, something that mirrors life itself. And through that understanding, Garza Jr. said he has found a new perspective.
Instead of chasing stats, Garza Jr. said he is chasing something far more meaningful: A championship, a postseason run, and the opportunity to do it alongside his teammates.
