Hammond’s Tucker Toman Photo by Mike Maddock
Anyone following high school baseball in the Midlands knows about Hammond’s Tucker Toman. He is the son of former UofSC assistant baseball coach Jim Toman, and he has made a name for himself on the diamond.
The Skyhawks star and current LSU commit has attracted a lot of attention from Major League Baseball Scouts.
“He amazes me,” Hammond head coach Chris Braciszewski said. “I’ve been around a while and seen a lot of kids that have been seen by scouts, but he’s got 20, 30, 40 scouts at games and at practices. He’s a pro. He’s a humble kid. He doesn’t care anything about anybody coming out and watching him; he’s going to play the game and he’s a leader of this team.
“I was talking about it with the coaches the other day, I couldn’t imagine being 17, 18 years old and having all these people looking at me and be like ‘Ok, let’s play.’ That’s the most impressive thing. It doesn’t phase him.”
While everyone outside the diamond talks about his home runs or his future, Toman is more concerned about the 2022 season.
“I’m trying to take everything in and enjoy this last ride with my team,” Toman said. “I want to go out there and win another state championship.”
It’s not hard to see what has fans and scouts gushing over the Hammond star. Since his freshman year, Toman has been a force to be reckoned with at the plate. In 2019, Toman had a .365 slugging percentage with three home runs and 32 RBI.
After the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Toman improved on his stats during his junior season in 2021 where he had a .672 average with eight home runs and 28 RBI. He was walked 26 times.
So far this season, through March 21, Toman has a .562 batting average with five home runs, 15 RBI, and 13 walks. That includes a double header against Heathwood Hall where he went a combined 4-for-7 with a home run and five RBI.
“He’s a game changer,” Braciszewski said. “Most teams we’ve played won’t pitch to him. I expect that. That’s why I moved him to the start of the lineup. If they want to put him on base for free, we have other guys behind him that can hit too. Eventually they have to pitch to him.”
Toman says when he steps in the box it’s a battle between him and the pitcher. His main focus is hitting the ball hard. He says he’ll hit the ball wherever it is pitched.
Toman’s impact on the Hammond baseball team goes beyond his performance at the plate. In the field, Toman isn’t afraid to play multiple positions. This year he has focused primarily at shortstop. In previous years, he’s played third base and pitched for the Skyhawks.
Toman is also a vocal leader. In the second game of the Heathwood Hall double header, Braciszewski said no one cheered harder than Toman when Arman Riley hit the game-clinching single.
“He’s always been a leader by example,” Braciszewski said. “But now that he’s a senior he has taken the reins and been more of a vocal leader. His leadership is amazing. He never yells at the guys or points fingers.
As the season progresses, there are sure to be even more eyes on Toman. Braciszewski says he supports him the best he can.
Whether Toman’s future is at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana or in Major League Baseball, with his favorite player, Robinson Cano; one thing is certain, Toman’s current focus is helping the Skyhawks come together as a team and capture the program’s third SCISA 3A State Championship in four years.
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