Welcome to Saturday Spotlight! Here, we dive deep into the lives of Ohio State student-athletes and learn more about their journeys to Columbus, their love of the Buckeye traditions and who they are as competitors and students.
Jalen Washington has always had a bit of love and appreciation for Ohio State — and more specifically, what it means to be a Buckeye. As a native of Twinsburg, Ohio, Washington has had an interesting journey to Columbus, and said he enjoys the aspects of being a student-athlete that other students may never have the opportunity to experience.
A two-time captain of the Ohio State baseball team, Washington is hitting .236 through 24 games this season, notching 21 hits, five doubles, three triples and three home runs. In his fourth year with the team, Washington is looking to lead the Scarlet and Gray to their second-straight Big Ten tournament title and another trip to the College World Series.
We sat down with Jalen this week to discuss when he realized his potential, studying international business, and much more.
When did you realize you might have a chance to play baseball at the collegiate level?
Jalen Washington: Probably my junior year of high school. My summer ball coaches were really starting to be serious with me and starting to have the talks about colleges, and kind of the process of getting into college baseball and how recruiting kind of goes. Then that summer of junior year, that's when a lot of the coaches started coming out to summer ball games. So, probably around that time.
What drew you to come to Ohio State outside of baseball?
JW: Ohio State was my dream school. Growing up in Ohio (I was) a big Buckeye fan, so I always wanted to come here whether I was playing a sport or not. I got the opportunity to play baseball here, and I was pretty stoked when I finally got that call.
What is the best part about being an athlete?
JW: Being on that platform, being able to spread the word, and just kind of the opportunity to do the things that you wouldn't be able to do if you were just a student. Meeting new people, doing stuff around the community and helping out and just the idea that you can do stuff a normal student can't is what I like about it.
What’s been your best baseball moment in your career?
JW: The best baseball moment was definitely last year, our Big Ten championship down in Omaha. The group of guys we had are some of my best friends now and I'm sure until I die, and just to share that moment with them — a group of people going after one goal — was an awesome moment for me.
Do you or the team have any special superstitions?
JW: It's a lot of little things, a lot of routine things. Just, like, if you have a couple game hit streak, I tend to do the same things before the game — like if I shower before the game or whatever; Just little, routine stuff like that. If things are working, then I stick with it. If I come up hitless, then I'll change it up a little bit.
What are you studying? What are your plans after you receive your degree?
JW: I'm an international business major in Fisher (College of Business). I'm still trying to figure (my future plans) out, to see if baseball can take me somewhere. Other than that, I've got another year so I'm trying to figure that out
What’s been your favorite class at OSU and why?
JW: I took a Yiddish class that was kind of cool, and learned about Jewish people. It was, like, a film class so we watched a lot of movies and found out about their culture and the way they lived. It was really eye opening, and I really liked that.
What’s your favorite part about/spot on campus?
JW: I really like Thompson Library. Not that I like the idea of studying or 'library' as much, but it's a quiet place I can get work done. I go there a couple times a week, and up on the top floors it's got a pretty good view, too.
What's your favorite Ohio State or Buckeye tradition?
JW: I think it might be football gameday. Just waking up, hanging out with your friends, going to tailgates and going to the game — especially when it gets warmer out. Just being around the people, throwing your jersey on and just watching a good football game and having fun.
What’s something that not a lot of people know about you?
JW: I have two brothers that play college baseball. One was here last night, he plays for (Ohio University) so I got to play against him. Then two years ago, my older brother played at Akron and we got to play them as well. So, (it's) just kind of cool memories that I'll remember forever — but just the idea that me and my brothers made it to Division One college baseball and share the field together is kind of an exciting moment for me.
What is something you would tell an incoming student about Ohio State that you'd like them to know?
JW: I'd just say how great it is to be a Buckeye. As I've went through my years, you start to realize that being a Buckeye holds a lot of weight — not just in Columbus, but really all over the country and all over the world to be honest. I was in Bolivia this summer for a mission trip, and we're wearing some Ohio State gear and we've got people going, 'O-H', across the country. So, things like that, and being in different states and people glorifying you because you're a Buckeye and being excited to see you.
