Meet PTown’s Pros: Tommy Everidge
by PTownFan
OK… so he’s from Glen Ellen. But he’s been a hittting instructor at the Athletic Edge Batting cages and a fixture in local baseball camps for so long that he fits right in. At least an honorary PTowner. Especially in light of today’s honor 
TOMMY EVERIDGE (1B, Oakland Athletics Organization- en route from AAA Sacramento to MLB Oakland):
Tommy Everidge (Chris Lockard, Scout.com)
PTown Connection:
Just about every PTown ballplayer has taken swings with Tommy at the Athletic Edge Batting Cages or in Chad Fillinger’s Big League Camp where he is a favorite instructor. Tommy grew up in Glen Ellen, attended Sonoma High School and graduated from Sonoma State. He has been an instructor at Petaluma’s Athletic Edge Batting Cages the last few off seasons.
Career Highlights: Selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 10th round (307th overall) of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft out of Sonoma State University. Was fifth in the California League in runs (89) in 2006. During 2007, Everidge led the California League with 26 home runs and 90 RBIS (a career highs) playing 1B for the Class A Advanced Stockton Ports. Tommy’s bat was on fire at the end of the season. He finished 2007 by going 8-for-13 with three home runs and eight RBIs in a three-game series against Lancaster on Aug. 24-26. He was briefly promoted to Double-A Midland before a call up to the AAA Sacramento River Cats as an extra bat on the bench during the the Triple A playoffs. In 2008, Tommy had a career high 10 RBI game as the AA Midland Rockhounds pulverized the Tulsa Drillers 17-6 on Memorial Day, earning him Texas Player of the Week honors. He was selected to the Texas Mid-Season All Star Team. His memorable Memorial Day Game later earned him MiLB Best AA Single Game Performance honors and helped him earn Midland Rockhound’s MVP award.
In 2009 it’s fair to say that Tommy is the story in PTown Baseball . He had a career year at AA Midland last season including an award winning 10 RBI game and was named the Rockhounds’ MVP with 115 RBIs on the season. He was (finally) called up to the AAA Rivercats on June 9th. After a 2-20 start, he’s been mashing. His average reached .382 yesterday. Holy smokes! While in Midland, Everidge spent quite a bit of time at 3B, but hopes to continue the tradition of elite Rivercat first basemen.
Chatter: The following link recaps Tommy’s early 2009 season. Be sure to read the reader comment at the end. A whole lotta people feel this way about Tommy here in Sonoma County. http://natnotes.com/2008/05/29/tommy-everidge-mash-ball-go-far-team-win/ And this Bleacher Report blog does a really nice job of recapping Tommy’s journey through the minors and overdue callup to The Show.
Well done Tommy. Go get ‘em!
Touching base with PTown’s baseball pros… and other things that make her crow.
Well Said! My son Mikey has been hitting with Tommy consistantly for around 4years Mostly at Athletic Edge, but also when he was at University of sports. He is an amazing person, not just an athlete. When everyone else in town was charging $30 for 30minutes and constantly looking at the time for the last 10minutes, there was Tommy- never once looking at his watch and sometimes running into 90min to 2hours a lesson.
He didn’t teach hitting for the money, he does it because he loves the kids, at times I think HE is the bigger kid. There are countless conversations about the latest video games and what he was currently playing or asking my sons about their girlfriends or lack there of. He’s not only a teacher, he’s been the greatest role model for Mikey. Those once sometimes twice a week sessions were more than just lessons, they were a time to hang out with a “real” person who enjoyed talking to us as much as we did him. He’s become a good friend of ours over the years and we’re so happy he’s finally getting his shot, it literally could not happen to a nicer person who has really paid his dues with numerous seasons in the minors and playing winter ball in Peurto Rico. He WILL be a fan favorite in Oakland as he has been at every stop he’s made! He and his fiancee Kelly deserve this. GO TOMMY!!
by Jim Navas
Thanks for stopping by. I think you’ve summed up how a lot of people in this town feel about Tommy. Some of PTownJr’s best times at the cages are when Tommy is just hanging out and challenging the kids to a hitting game. He really makes it fun and it’s always about them, not him. And is he ever a hit at Chad’s Big League Camp. So glad the A’s didn’t wait until September to bring him up.
by PTownFan