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Robert Shipman, Jr.Brooks County High SchoolQuitman, Georgia by Robert Preston, Jr. photography by Jonathan Chick |
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You could call Brooks County first baseman and pitcher Robert Shipman Jr. a late bloomer. The now-6’ 2”, 237-pound senior emerged as one of the best baseball prospects in South Georgia and has committed to continue his playing career at the University of Georgia. But that wasn’t always the case. According to his father and coach, Robert Shipman Sr., Robert was always big and strong, but he was clumsy. As a youth he showed he had power by occasionally hitting a long home run, but there was nothing remarkable about his playing ability. When Robert was about 14 years old, Robert Sr. organized a travel team. This wasn’t your typical team; it was made up of average ball players, the kind who didn’t make the All-Star teams and had been told their entire careers that they just weren’t good enough. He put Robert on the team, and things were tough in the beginning. “We used to get drummed. But the more we played, the better we got. Our players weren’t the cream of the crop, but we had some motivated fathers. We got better,” says Robert Sr. The coaching staff focused on the fundamentals of the game and gave the kids the proper instruction. Little by little, the team improved. Each weekend brought a renewed confidence and more game experience. “Those kids got motivated. When they had a chance to play, they made the most of it,” says Robert Sr. Robert benefited tremendously from that travel team. He enjoyed playing under rules similar to what he would play in high school, and it encouraged him to get better. When travel ball ended and it was time to try out for the high school team, his father was worried. Robert was beginning to come into his own, but his dad just wanted him to make the high school team. And don’t think that Robert received any special consideration because he was the coach’s son. “Dad has been very hard on my brother and me. We can’t say that he showed us any favoritism. It used to bother us, but it doesn’t bother us much anymore,” says Robert. He ended up making the high school team but struggled early in the season. However, the more at-bats he received, the better he became. Though his batting average as a freshman was under .300, he stepped up in the playoffs. In his first postseason at-bat, he hit a home run. Robert followed that with a long drive off the fence. That’s when he thought he might be able to do something in baseball. Those playoff at-bats reinforced something Robert Sr. already knew – his son is tough in the clutch. “He performs well under pressure. I want him at the plate with two outs; he lives for those situations. You feel good when he’s at the plate,” says Robert Sr. |
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Robert hit .460 as a sophomore. Thoughts of playing college baseball at the Division II or Division III level began creeping into his head. “I was thinking small,” he admits. But he kept improving. Last season, he hit .416 with five home runs and 38 walks. Robert had a couple of good camps and showcases that summer, and the Division I offers started coming in.
It was Coach David Perno at the University of Georgia who really took notice. Robert Sr. says that he couldn’t afford to send his son to an expensive camp, so Robert went to a hitting camp in Athens. Coach Perno was there and saw Robert hit. He was immediately impressed and the two spoke. Coach Perno stayed in touch with the Shipmans following the camp and eventually offered Robert a scholarship. He readily accepted. “I chose Georgia because of the opportunity to play as a freshman. Georgia also keeps its athletes on top of their grades, and the program is headed in the right direction,” explains Robert. In addition to playing first base, Robert also pitches. He’s a hard-throwing lefty that can hit the low 90s. However, he isn’t interested in pitching. “Part of the deal of signing with Georgia was no pitching. Pitching is frustrating for me — some days you throw strikes, some you don’t. You have to deal with arm soreness. And besides, I like to hit,” he says. His father backs up what Robert says. “He pitches for us out of necessity. He doesn’t like it, but the scouts at all the camps say he has a live arm. And scouts are looking at him to pitch,” says Robert Sr. Robert has pitched for Team Georgia, and he threw very well at the East Coast Pro Showcase in Lakeland, Florida. East Coast is an important showcase that utilizes professional scouts who choose the best high school underclassmen from their respective regions. The players form six teams, each named after a Major League team, and they receive professional instruction before playing organized games. Robert had a good performance at East Coast and made a big impression on the scouts. But hitting is what Robert really enjoys. He has a good eye and is patient at the plate. However, he’s not afraid to go after the first pitch and has no qualms at all about swinging on a 2-0 or 3-0 count. “Dad gives me the green light,” he says. Robert enjoys playing defense but admits that, on certain days, he prefers simply hitting. “Sometimes, I just want to DH,” he laughs. For Robert’s entire life, his father has coached him. Robert says his father has taught him to work hard and be self-motivated. “You don’t always have to have someone pushing you. Work hard in the classroom and at practice, and don’t wait until the last minute to do things,” he says. Robert Sr. also makes sure his son remains grounded. It’s not that difficult; though Robert has played on some of the top amateur teams in Georgia and has traveled the country playing baseball, he doesn’t seem impressed by the attention. Outside of baseball, Robert’s primary activity revolves around his commitment to God and attending the Church of God the Bible Way in Valdosta. “That’s first. I know where my talent came from. I’ve been very blessed,” he says. That fact in particular impresses Robert Sr. “He loves God and tries to live by what the Bible says. He’s been ridiculed before. But he’s very humble, and I’m really glad that God allowed me to be his parent,” says Robert Sr. • | |
January 2012
Robert Preston Jr. 
Micki K Photography 
