This OU baseball recruit from Sacred Heart-Griffin is watching the Sooners from afar — for now

Originally, R.J. Jimerson’s plan was to be in Norman, Oklahoma, to get ready for his freshman season with the Sooners baseball team.

But the Oklahoma baseball team can’t be found anywhere in-state; instead, the Sooners open the College World Series at 1 p.m. Friday against Texas A&M on ESPN.

“It’s been really cool for me knowing I’m going to the school, just to see how they’re competing at such a high level to finally make it to the College World Series,” Jimerson said. “It’s their first time back since 2010.

“Of course, I think their chances are great. I think they have the top-rated offense, but they still have to hit the ball.”

College World Series: 11 players from Illinois part of NCAA baseball championships

Jimerson recently graduated from Sacred Heart-Griffin High, where he was a four-year varsity baseball player. He has joined the Appalachian League’s Bristol State Liners. He plans to stream Oklahoma's CWS game while on a bus trip to Princeton, West Virginia. After this year, he hopes to play in the College World Series instead of watching it.

“I’d love to make it all four years I’m attending Oklahoma," he said, "but one would be enough."

Jimerson helped SHG made the Class 2A state finals in 2021. As a senior, he batted .297 with three home runs and nine RBIs. He had 14 stolen bases.

“I have memories from all four years on varsity but going to state — since that was the goal throughout the whole high school year — that is a great memory,” Jimerson said. “But it’s not just that; it’s the guys and all the talks we had."

More on R.J.: This Oklahoma baseball recruit from Sacred Heart Griffin just keeps getting better

Jimerson is playing in the Appalachain League, a wood-bat structure for college players, like the Prospect League with the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes.

“I’m by far the youngest guy out here; most of my teammates are 20, 21,” Jimerson said. “I actually faced a pitcher that goes to (Oklahoma State), talked to him, got his phone number and his social media stuff, and that was pretty cool. That’s a matchup waiting to be held.”

Jimerson hopes playing against current college players will have him ready to succeed once he joins a team that expects a certain standard of results.

Big bats: Springfield High wins regional baseball showdown against Sacred Heart-Griffin

“It’s a cool league. The game speeds up and gets faster,” Jimerson said. “I’ve been leading off. … So it’s pretty much not any different from high school in that aspect. I’ve faced high-velocity before, but these kids like to work backwards. Sometimes they’ll get down in the count and work their way back.

“It’s a different mindset adjusting to that and to the field of the play and just knowing what I’m trying to do in my (at-bat); choosing a different approach and sticking to it no matter what the pitcher shows me. I’m just trying to gather as much information so I can go to Oklahoma ready to play.”

Contact Ryan Mahan: 788-1546, ryan.mahan@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/RyanMahanSJR.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Oklahoma baseball: Recruit RJ Jimerson watching College World Series