JR Bizzell was arguably one of the greatest baseball players in the history of Rhodes College. Bizzell showed up on campus in the fall of 2005 as a walk-on for the baseball program and, by the time he graduated, his accomplishments on the diamond were legend.
JR was selected as a First Team All-SCAC all four years of his playing career, an accomplishment only one other Rhodes Baseball player has ever achieved. The SCAC (Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) announced the 30th anniversary baseball team and JR was chosen as one of the best three shortstops in SCAC history. His name is all over the baseball record books at Rhodes College. He is fourth all-time in the following categories: at bats (683), runs scored (166), and hits (233). JR also has the highest career fielding percentage among Rhodes shortstops, most career double plays by any middle infielder in Rhodes Baseball history, and most single season double plays turned (32). The combination of his offensive prowess and his masterful defense at shortstop makes him one of the most talented all-around players to ever wear a Rhodes Baseball uniform.
Coach Jeff Cleanthes still remembers the time JR showed up in his office to let him know he wanted to try out for the baseball team, and he uses this story every year someone wants to walk-on. “JR came in my office at 5 feet 7 inches, 140 pounds and said he ran a 6.5 60-yard dash and threw 90 across the diamond. Unfortunately, JR had an emergency operation the day before tryouts started, so we had to wait a couple of weeks to give him a chance. He showed up to practice a couple of weeks into the fall season, ran a 6.4 60-yard dash and threw 92 across the diamond.” The rest of the story is history and brings us to where we are today. During JR’s four years as a leader, both on and off the field, the Lynx enjoyed a level of success that they had never seen before! The team’s winning percentage of .676 during JR’s four years was more than double what it had been during the four years before he showed up on campus.
JR was an incredibly competitive athlete, but was an even better leader and teammate. He was loved by everyone involved with the baseball program during his tenure on the diamond. He graduated as one of the best baseball players of all time at Rhodes and, 15 years later, he still holds that honor.
In recognition of his hard work and dedication to Lynx Athletics, Rhodes is honored to induct JR Bizzell into the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame on this 2nd day of November, 2024.
