TJ Wharton to Lead Snowbirds in 2022

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Maryville College assistant coach TJ Wharton selected to lead the Palm Beach Snowbirds for the 2022 season.

Born in Dayton, Ohio, and raised in Tampa, Florida, TJ came to Maryville in 2019-20 from St. Petersburg Florida. During his first campaign as a Fighting Scots’ assistant, the squad erupted offensively in 2020 hitting .352 as a team ranking 20th nationally. Maryville College was 1st in hits (240), 1st in runs scored (186), 4th in doubles (42), 9th in stolen bases (41), 9th in triples (10),19th in scoring (9.8 runs/game), and 23rd in on-base percentage (.445).

In 2018-19, TJ worked for St. Petersburg College and for the New York Yankees. With St. Petersburg College, he oversaw the strength and conditioning department while assisting with offensive and recruiting duties. While with the New York Yankees, he was a Performance Science Assistant where he oversaw the implementation of new baseball technology and assisted the minor and major league rehab assignments.

TJ then went onto manage the Licking County Settlers of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. The Settlers won the southern division regular and post-season championships but fell short in the championship series. The Settlers improved to a 28-19 record in 2019 after going 9-33 in the previous season. TJ also had coaching stops with Eckerd College in 2017-2018 and Catawba College 2015-2017.

Before his college-coaching career, he had a successful collegiate and professional playing career. In his collegiate playing career, he was a second-team all-region 10 at GTCC as a catcher. He then moved on to Catawba College where he was back-to-back 1st team all SAC DH and 2nd team All-Southeast Region DH. Catawba won regular-season titles both years he played there and were Division 2 national runners-up his senior year.  His summer collegiate baseball career was highlighted with a championship win with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod League in 2014. He wrapped up his playing career playing professionally in 2016 for the White Sands Pup Fish of the Pecos League, where he was an all-star and the Ottawa Champions of the Can-Am League. He and his wife, Taylor (a marketing director), now reside in Maryville, Tennessee.

In a brief interview, TJ went on to share these answers on some questions pertaining to the CLPB

Why the CLPB?

The college summer baseball landscape is changing, and I think the CLPB is ahead of the curve and allows for more time to train and get better at the game rather than just spending time on a bus traveling and only playing games

What are you most excited for about the league this summer?

Mostly to learn and be able to have the extra time with a lighter game schedule to be able to learn. Being able to learn from not only the players on my team and in the league, but also from the Cressey program as well

As a new coach in the CLPB, what are you looking forward to the most being able to manage your own team this upcoming summer?

The goal for me down the road is to be a college head coach, and for me to be able to have this amazing opportunity to manage my own team this upcoming summer is a huge step in the right direction for me

What do you feel you can bring to the CLPB to help players development?

Systems thinking. Ultimately everyone must be on the same page through the duration of the summer. I have a background in strength and conditioning and being able to understand how player’s bodies feel based upon what they communicate to me, then I can correctly structure when guys should be on the field based on how their body feels

Fun fact about yourself during your baseball career as a player/coach

I was teammates with Walker Buehler on the 2014 Cape Cod championship team

Collegiate League of the Palm Beaches

PLAYER FINANCIAL AGREEMENT

This Financial Agreement (« Agreement ») is between you and PALM BEACH BSB, LLC (“CLPB”). Permission to participate in the 2021 CLPB season is conditional upon your acceptance of and satisfactory performance under this Agreement. By clicking on the “I accept” button below, you have indicated that you have read, understand, consent and agree to the terms of the Player Financial Agreement. Acceptance of this Agreement will bind you to the terms herein in a legally enforceable contract with the CLPB.


In furtherance of the 2021 Letter of Intent and Player Agreement entered into with PALM BEACH BSB, LLC (“CLPB”), I hereby agree to furnish $1000.00 to the CLPB for and in consideration of my participation in the CLPB season, including all post-season play.


By accepting this Agreement, I agree to submit a $500.00 deposit to the CLPB by December 19, 2020, and to submit a second installment of $500.00 to the CLPB by March 17, 2021. I acknowledge and agree that I am responsible for an additional expense for insurance coverage to be determined before the beginning of the CLPB season. The CLPB reserves the right to require proof of medical insurance as a pre-condition to participation in the CLPB season.


By accepting this Agreement, I acknowledge and agree that I will have the option to train with Cressey Sports Performance during the CLPB season at the additional cost of $299.00 per month to be paid directly to Cressey Sports Performance.
By accepting this Agreement, I acknowledge and agree that I will be required to sign additional necessary waivers to participate in the CLPB season when I arrive at the CLPB.


This Agreement and any dispute, controversy, disagreement, or issue of construction or interpretation arising hereunder, whether relating to its execution, performance, validity or the obligations provided herein, shall be governed and interpreted according to the laws of the state of Florida. In the event that there is any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or to the interpretation, breach or enforcement thereof, and any action or proceeding is commenced to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, each Party shall be responsible for payment of their own attorneys’ fees. THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY FOR ANY DISPUTES THAT ARISE OUT OF OR ARE IN ANY WAY RELATED TO OR DERIVE FROM THIS AGREEMENT. The Contracting Parties must and shall mediate any dispute prior to instituting legal proceedings against one another, and upon instituting legal proceedings, shall again submit the dispute for mediation within 60 days. Jurisdiction and venue shall lie and any litigation must be commenced in Palm Beach County, Florida. The Contracting Parties hereby agree that this Agreement will not be construed more strictly against either Contracting Party regardless of which Contracting Party is responsible for its preparation. Player agrees that the foregoing deposit is non refundable under any circumstances, except in the event of injury